National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Local Council (LC) leaders to take a frontline role in exposing and curbing corruption within government service delivery systems.
While campaigning in the Teso sub-region — including Soroti, Serere and Ngora — Museveni said fighting corruption must be a collective effort, and warned LC leaders against abandoning their oversight duties.
“The NRM gave you a gun, but you don’t know how to fire it,” Museveni remarked, urging local leaders to hold corrupt civil servants accountable and safeguard government programmes.
The president’s comments come amid renewed debate on corruption during the ongoing presidential campaigns.
According to a 2021 report by the Inspectorate of Government (IG), corruption remains a leading barrier to Uganda’s social and economic transformation despite years of investment in anti-graft efforts.
The IG noted that corruption has eroded public trust, delayed infrastructure projects, weakened service delivery, and cost lives. It estimated that eliminating corruption could save the country at least Shs 9.1 trillion annually — nearly 44% of the national budget.
Corruption has become one of the key election issues, with Museveni’s rivals accusing him of failing to dismantle entrenched graft networks.
Forum for Democratic Change’s Nandala Mafabi, while campaigning in Teso, said his party would stop “the theft of over Shs 10 trillion every year.”
Alliance for National Transformation flag-bearer, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, also argued that corruption has infiltrated “almost all systems, both public and private.”
Museveni defended his government’s efforts, saying the LC structure — from LC1 toLCV — was created to empower communities to fight corruption from the grassroots, especially at a time when civil servants like chiefs, teachers and veterinary officers engaged in bribery and abuse of office.
He acknowledged improvements in areas such as immunisation, but admitted that certain services, particularly in the health sector, continue to suffer due to theft of drugs and mismanagement.
“The people elected you to supervise their interests and protect government programmes,” he told LC leaders, urging them to ensure public funds are correctly utilised and services reach intended beneficiaries.
Museveni also emphasised that the NRM government has delivered peace and security, urging Teso residents to back him for continued stability.
He pledged renewed support for cattle restocking in the region, saying consultations with local leaders had led to a plan to provide five cows per household to boost livelihoods.
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