By Joseph Kiggundu
The Inspectorate of Government has backed Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s efforts to crack down on corruption but cautioned him against taking action against public officials without following established legal procedures.
Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe said the fight against corruption requires cooperation among government institutions, but warned that anti-corruption interventions must respect the rights of accused officials.
Muhairwe said the Inspectorate recognises Barugahara’s efforts to improve accountability and service delivery in local governments, particularly as Uganda continues to grapple with corruption and weaknesses in public service delivery.
She said allegations against public officers should first be investigated and the individuals involved given an opportunity to respond before disciplinary or criminal measures are taken.
“Yes, his intervention is good for the country and, as our agency, we really acknowledge his role because the scourge of corruption in the country has been at its peak. Fighting corruption requires a concerted effort,” Muhairwe said.
She nevertheless urged the minister to ensure that his interventions remain within the law.
Muhairwe explained that the Inspectorate follows an investigative process before taking action against government officials accused of corruption. Investigators establish the facts and prepare a report before the appropriate legal procedures are initiated.
“As the Inspectorate of Government, we are the custodians of the law regarding the fight against corruption. Before we take action against any government official, we first undertake a thorough investigation and come up with an authentic report, and then the law takes its course,” she said.
She said government officials should not be summarily dismissed, interdicted or subjected to other sanctions before the procedures prescribed by law have been followed.
The warning comes amid increased scrutiny of local governments by Barugahara over alleged corruption, accountability failures and poor service delivery. The Inspectorate has previously welcomed his campaign while cautioning that actions taken without due process could expose government to legal challenges and compensation claims.
Muhairwe also called on members of the public to report suspected corruption to the relevant authorities, saying citizen cooperation is critical to successful investigations.
She said credible information from the public can help the Inspectorate identify corrupt officials and build cases against those found to have abused their offices.
“If we get accurate information from you about the corrupt people, it helps us to act and deal with them. But unfortunately, you fear reporting corrupt people,” she said.