Mega FM: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s directive to intensify the fight against corruption and strengthen accountability in government programmes is gaining momentum, with at least Shs22.7 billion funds linked to corruption-related complaints and cases under investigation.
The ongoing nationwide “Expose the Corrupt” campaign, being implemented through a multi-agency approach led by the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), has so far resulted in the arrest of 267 suspects, interdiction of 253 officials and arraignment of nearly 40 accused persons.
The campaign brings together SHACU, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and other anti-corruption and government agencies to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of office, misuse of public resources and poor service delivery in local governments.
SHACU head, Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, said the figures demonstrate the scale of complaints being raised by citizens and growing efforts to hold public officials accountable.
He, however, clarified that the Shs22.7 billion represents funds implicated in matters under investigation and should not be interpreted as money conclusively established to have been stolen or lost.
According to Brig. Gen. Isoke, the actual extent of any financial loss, recoverable funds and criminal liability will be established through ongoing investigations, audits, verification of financial records and other specialised processes.
He made the remarks on Tuesday during an engagement with the Presidential Press Unit team at his office in Kampala, where he outlined the progress of the campaign and its impact on accountability and service delivery.
Brig. Gen. Isoke said SHACU’s mandate includes receiving and coordinating citizens’ corruption complaints with constitutionally mandated agencies for investigation and resolution.
The campaign follows President Museveni’s directive to government leaders and anti-corruption agencies to intensify the fight against corruption and establish directly from citizens whether government programmes are delivering the intended services.
President Museveni has repeatedly urged leaders to move beyond relying solely on reports from local officials and instead engage directly with communities to establish how public programmes are being implemented.
Addressing the NRM Parliamentary Caucus at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds last week, President Museveni said Uganda would have progressed much further economically if corruption had not undermined government programmes.
