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President Museveni
By Job Bwire
Websites Editor
NMG-U
President Museveni has defended the ongoing field inspection tours conducted by Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara and his junior, Justine Nameere, dismissing fears that their grassroots approach could backfire.
Addressing the nation in a statement addressed to “Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu,” Mr Museveni whose 40-year old government has been accused of widespread abuse of public resources, addressed public concerns that the impromptu tours amounted to Kutomera—a Luganda term for blindly bumping into issues without preparation. The President stated that these fears are unfounded due to the sheer impunity, frequency, and scale of corruption currently carried out by unaccountable actors across the country.
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“The fear that the Barugaharas and Nameeres may Kutomera, may not be based on facts,” President Museveni said, adding that the primary challenge now rests with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to assign dedicated officers to swiftly assess the abundant evidence gathered against suspected criminals for immediate prosecution.
Mr Museveni who has been in power since 1986 highlighted that corruption has persisted due to two main systemic failures: official cover-ups by authorities tasked with protecting national interests, and a widespread failure by educated elites in decision-making centers to report wrongdoings. He explained that by holding public gatherings (Barazas), Minister Barugahara and Ms. Nameere have effectively bypassed the blockade created by corrupt officials.
The President noted that public frustration with corruption in initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) had previously interrupted his own campaign activities, alongside reports from Bunyoro elders regarding the illegal sale of local government jobs. He also referenced ongoing investigations into ghost learners, teachers, and health centers in government institutions.
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While criticizing corrupt officials, Mr Museveni, 81, commended patriotic citizens and elites, citing Transport Minister Fred Byamukama, who previously helped expose and arrest an extortion racket operating within State House. He further noted that former Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi had been dispatched earlier to investigate similar public complaints, though decisive action had lagged until the recent public mobilization.
Drawing parallels to the early days of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), President Museveni remarked that the overwhelming, voluntary public turnout at these recent Barazas demonstrates citizens’ enthusiasm for decisive action against graft. He urged all public officers to end cover-ups and called on ordinary Ugandans to continue reporting corrupt practices, reiterating that corruption in Uganda remains entirely stoppable.
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