Nameere orders arrest of district officials

Minister Nameere orders arrests in Budaka

During an inspection tour of the facility, Minister Nameere accused the officials of failing in their oversight duties. She expressed concern over reports that patients were being charged between sh150,000 and sh200,000 for operations, as well as sh60,000 for ambulance services. If you listen to people’s cries, it shows there is a problem in this facility, Nameere said, citing a lack of professional respect for the roles held by the accused. The minister has directed that once apprehended, the two officials be handed over to the Police and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) for formal statements and investigation.

Scrutiny of district expenditures

Beyond the health sector, the minister is investigating financial conduct within the Budaka District engineering department. Specifically, Nameere is probing reports that District Engineer Sam Dida spent sh24 million on refreshments during road supervision in a single financial year. The expenditure was highlighted in a report presented by Chief Administrative Officer Richard Mugolo.

These actions are part of a broader, ongoing crackdown on corruption, absenteeism, and abuse of office across local governments in Uganda. Eight officials have already been arrested in connection with investigations in Petete Town Council and Iki Iki Sub-county.

Nationwide anti-corruption campaign

The current interventions in Budaka are part of a national Expose the Corrupt campaign led by Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara and State Minister Justine Nameere. Appointed to the portfolio in May 2026, the ministers were tasked by President Yoweri Museveni to confront individuals responsible for the misappropriation of funds in development programs.

The ministry’s nationwide drive focuses on identifying shoddy construction work, inflated project costs, and the mismanagement of public funds. The high-profile inspections have resulted in interdictions and arrests across multiple regions, including Bulambuli, Mbale, Masaka, Mitooma, Pakwach, and districts in the Ankole region.

In Mitooma District, eight senior staff members—including the District Health Officer and the District Education Officer—were recently interdicted for six months to facilitate investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. Similar actions have been taken in Pakwach, where officials were arrested over a Shs1 billion road project. While the ministers’ approach has led to widespread interventions, it has also prompted public discussion regarding the methods used during their spontaneous site visits, with some cabinet members expressing criticism of the on-the-spot arrest strategy.

The ministry maintains that these sweeps are essential to protect community development projects, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), from being undermined by corrupt actors. The goal of the campaign, according to the ministry, is to ensure lasting accountability and improve the delivery of essential services to residents.