A State House official has called for a special investigation into the wealth of National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo, questioning how properties estimated at UGX54 billion have allegedly been accumulated in her name and those of close family members.
Yiga Kyisakyamukama, the Special Presidential Assistant for Monitoring Service Delivery at State House, raised the concerns while addressing journalists in Kampala on Wednesday, urging the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to investigate the assets and establish whether they are commensurate with the known sources of income of the individuals in whose names they are registered.
Yiga called for the verification of asset declarations made by senior government officials, particularly in relation to their salaries and other legitimate sources of income, arguing that public accountability should extend to individuals holding influential positions within government and the ruling party.
He specifically cited properties in Muyenga, Nkenda and Bulindo, within the Kampala metropolitan area, which he claimed were linked to Nekesa, her biological sister, mother and young son.
He questioned why some of the properties were registered in the names of close relatives, arguing that their individual sources of income appeared insufficient to explain the reported value of the investments.
Among the properties he identified is land in Bulindo, Block 182, Plot 557, reportedly registered in the name of Nafula Susan, whom he identified as Nekesa’s biological sister.
According to Yiga, the property was acquired in 2022 and is valued at approximately UGX2.8 billion. He questioned how Nafula could have raised the money required for the acquisition without an identifiable source of income.
He also cited another property reportedly registered in the name of Nekesa’s seven-year-old son, Oundo Mukaga Junior, which he valued at approximately UGX5 billion.
In Muyenga, Yiga identified land in Block 224, Plots 93, 89 and 29, reportedly registered in the name of Nekesa’s mother, Mary Adudu. He claimed the properties were acquired in February 2026 at an estimated value of UGX4 billion.
Another property he cited is an apartment in Nkenda, Block 16, Plot 4-916, which he attributed to Nekesa and valued at approximately UGX9 billion.
He further referred to other assets, including land in Busia, saying the properties collectively bring the estimated wealth under scrutiny to approximately UGX54 billion.
The allegations raise questions about the distinction between registered ownership and beneficial ownership of property, particularly where assets are held in the names of family members who may not necessarily be the individuals financing their acquisition.
Yiga argued that questioning the wealth of individuals in positions of responsibility should not be construed as disloyalty to the government or the ruling party, but rather as an obligation to uphold accountability.
“Accountability is not an act of betrayal. It is an obligation to the institution and the people themselves,” he said.
He maintained that he was prepared to face any consequences arising from his decision to speak out, insisting that holding a government position should not compromise one’s principles.
“I do not depend on this job for my survival, and no position is worth sacrificing my principles or remaining silent when I believe something is wrong,” Yiga said.
Nekesa has served as the NRM National Treasurer since June 2021. She previously represented Busia District as Woman Member of Parliament in the Ninth Parliament and served as State Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2011 and 2016.
She was later appointed Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa before returning to the ruling party’s leadership as National Treasurer, replacing Rose Namayanja.
Previous scrutiny over UGX2.2 billion robbery
Nekesa’s financial affairs previously attracted public attention in January 2024 following the robbery of approximately UGX2.2 billion from her residence in Muyenga-Bukasa, Kampala.
Police arrested 12 suspects, including four police officers, in connection with the incident. Investigations reportedly established that the robbery had been facilitated by a police officer attached to the couple’s security detail, who allegedly knew that substantial amounts of money were kept at the residence.
The incident triggered public debate over the ownership and source of the money, given Nekesa’s position as the ruling party’s National Treasurer.
However, NRM Communications Manager Rogers Mulindwa subsequently clarified that the money belonged to Nekesa and her then husband, businessman Hajj Suleiman Mafabi Lumolo, and that the party had not lost any funds in the robbery.
Political implications and wealth declaration
The latest allegations emerge amid heightened scrutiny of public officials’ wealth and the enforcement of asset declaration requirements under the Leadership Code Act.
They also come against the backdrop of reports of possible leadership changes at the NRM Secretariat headquarters in Kyadondo, where Nekesa serves as National Treasurer.
The developments have fuelled speculation within political circles about whether the allegations could be connected to internal party power struggles and competition for influential positions within the ruling party.
Some critics have suggested that the campaign against Nekesa could be politically motivated, particularly given the financial significance of the National Treasurer’s office. However, there is no established evidence linking Yiga’s demands for an investigation to an organised attempt to remove her from the position.
The NRM receives substantial public funding through the Electoral Commission under the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) funding framework, making the office of National Treasurer an influential position within the party’s financial administration.
Meanwhile, figures released by the Inspectorate of Government indicate that 302,800 public officers were registered for the April 2026 wealth declaration exercise. However, only 241,230 submitted their declarations of income, assets and liabilities by the April 30 deadline, leaving 61,570 officers non-compliant.
The reported 80 per cent compliance rate means thousands of public officers failed to meet their statutory obligations, potentially exposing them to enforcement proceedings under the Leadership Code Act.
Yiga is now demanding that the IGG undertake a special inquiry into Nekesa’s reported wealth, verify the ownership and acquisition of the properties he has identified and establish whether their values can be reconciled with the legitimate financial resources of the individuals concerned.
The allegations, however, remain unverified. No findings of wrongdoing have been established against Nekesa or the relatives named in the claims.
Nekesa’s response to the allegations was not included in the information available for this report. The IGG’s position on Yiga’s demand was also not immediately available.
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