Minister Babalanda: How RDCs and RCCs Are Protecting Taxpayers’ Money Through Corruption Fight

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion article attributed to Presidency Minister Babirye Milly Babalanda outlining the role of Resident District Commissioners and Resident City Commissioners in Uganda’s anti-corruption drive. Babalanda framed the campaign as a priority of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s current term, saying it is aimed at safeguarding public funds, improving service delivery and ensuring government programmes reach citizens.

According to the article, RDCs, RCCs and their deputies act as the President’s representatives in districts and cities, with responsibilities that include monitoring public projects and reporting misuse of resources. Babalanda said these officials routinely inspect schools, health centres, roads, markets, water schemes and other public investments, and have flagged issues such as incomplete works, poor construction, inflated contracts, abandoned projects and disputed land transactions affecting public institutions or communities.

The minister said RDCs and RCCs submit monitoring reports to the Office of the President through the Ministry for the Presidency, and that those reports help inform wider government action on accountability. She argued that recent nationwide anti-corruption operations should be seen as strengthening existing supervisory structures, not replacing them. She also directed RDCs and RCCs to be present when inspection teams visit their areas so they can support investigations with local knowledge and previous reports.

Babalanda acknowledged that some RDCs have faced administrative action where performance or conduct fell short, while others have faced retaliation for challenging alleged corruption. She urged citizens to keep reporting suspected wrongdoing through official channels, saying community complaints remain an important source of leads for investigators.