Uganda must move from anti-corruption populism to cabinet-level reform

What the report says

The Observer reports that surprise inspections by Uganda’s Local Government minister Balaam Barugahara and State minister Justine Nameere have become a major political talking point after they uncovered alleged ghost workers, payroll problems, poor construction and other service-delivery failures in districts, health centres and schools. The paper says the public reaction has been broadly positive, especially among citizens frustrated by broken infrastructure and weak local services, but it argues the current approach should be turned into a lasting system rather than a personality-driven campaign.

The article says the inspections have also raised legal and administrative concerns, including warnings that public humiliation or punishment without due process could conflict with constitutional protections. At the same time, it notes that Uganda’s local government laws give the ministry powers to inspect, monitor and coordinate local authorities. The key challenge, in the paper’s view, is to ensure inspections lead to lawful follow-up such as audits, disciplinary action, procurement reviews or investigations, instead of ending with publicity.

The Observer also places the debate in a wider anti-corruption context, saying Uganda already has several accountability bodies but corruption remains costly and entrenched. It argues that officials should not focus only on districts, because some of the biggest losses occur in central procurement, infrastructure and other large national spending areas. As background, the piece recalls the earlier cabinet-level anti-corruption work associated with former ethics minister Miria Matembe and suggests that anti-graft efforts need stronger political backing and institutional coordination to endure.