By Spy Uganda
The Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), Brig Gen Henry Isoke, has urged local government leaders to strengthen coordination, information sharing and joint action in the fight against corruption, warning that misuse of public resources directly harms citizens.
Brig Gen Isoke made the call while interacting with local government leaders from Western Uganda during a leadership engagement at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi. The engagement was held under the theme, “Building Synergy to Eliminate Corruption in Local Government.”
He said corruption at the local government level undermines service delivery by diverting resources meant for communities, weakening public institutions and eroding citizens’ trust in government.
Brig Gen Isoke identified procurement and contract management, recruitment and payroll, public finance and local revenue, land administration, government programmes and infrastructure as areas requiring increased vigilance from both political and technical leaders.
He urged leaders to work together to identify weaknesses in systems, share information and take timely action against individuals involved in corruption.
According to Isoke, political leaders have a responsibility to strengthen oversight, while technical officers must ensure proper management of public resources, maintain accurate records and enforce effective internal controls.
He pointed to the ongoing “Expose the Corrupt National Campaign”, championed by Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, as an example of how government institutions can work together to tackle corruption.
The campaign brings together SH-ACU, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Internal Security Organisation, Ministry of Works and Transport, Resident District Commissioners, councillors, citizens and other stakeholders in what officials describe as a whole-of-government approach.
Isoke said the campaign is also being driven by President Yoweri Museveni’s call for “No More Sleep, No More Corruption and No Tolerance for Non-Performance,” urging leaders and public officials to take the message seriously and deliver on their responsibilities.
He reported that the campaign has so far covered 18 districts and cities, leading to 104 arrests, 30 suspects being taken to court and the compilation of 48 case files involving an estimated Shs15 billion.
The SH-ACU chief also commended the zero-tolerance stance against corruption adopted by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, saying strong systems, transparency and accountability have contributed to strengthening the Uganda People’s Defence Forces as a national institution.
He challenged local government leaders to use their positions responsibly and ensure that government programmes and public resources translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
Isoke stressed that the fight against corruption cannot be left to a single institution, saying stronger cooperation among political leaders, technical officers, law enforcement agencies and citizens is essential to protecting public resources and improving service delivery.
He pledged continued support from SH-ACU in strengthening anti-corruption efforts at the local government level.
Brig Gen Isoke also thanked the Office of the President, particularly Permanent Secretary Haji Yunus Kakande, for inviting him to the leadership retreat. The programme is being coordinated by Willis Bashasha, Director of the Manifesto Implementation Unit.
