TAKEAWAYS

• Balaam wants long-serving district officials rotated every four years to curb corruption.
• He says his leadership will prioritize transparency and accountability.
• Balaam praised junior minister Justine Nameere, expressing confidence in their shared anti-corruption agenda.

Newly appointed Minister for Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, has vowed to crack down on corruption within local government structures, promising reforms aimed at restoring transparency and accountability across districts and town councils.

Speaking shortly to the media, Balaam raised concern over public servants who have remained stationed in the same districts for decades, arguing that such prolonged stays often create corruption networks that undermine service delivery.

Using Masindi District as an example, Balaam said the time had come to rethink how government deploys public servants.

According to the minister, officials who have spent 20 years or more in one district should be rotated to break entrenched systems that may facilitate abuse of office and corruption.

“There are workers who have been in public offices for 20 years in one district. What are they doing there? If they are good staff, let us rotate them,” Balaam said.

He proposed a structured transfer system similar to political appointments, suggesting that public servants be moved every four years.

“The way a minister is rotated after five years, a public servant should be rotated every four years to break networks of corruption in districts,” he added.

Balaam further emphasized that his leadership at the ministry will be anchored on transparency, accountability, and measurable results guided by cabinet priorities and parliamentary budget appropriations.

The minister also praised his junior minister, Hon. Justine Nameere, expressing confidence in their working relationship and her ability to deliver results.

Balaam described Nameere as energetic, intelligent, and determined, noting that the two had worked together before and were intentionally paired to drive reforms in the ministry.

He said their shared mission is to serve Ugandans by eliminating corruption and ensuring local government systems function effectively from the grassroots upward.

Balaam stressed that his focus remains firmly on local governance and pledged to remain connected to ordinary citizens while tackling corruption head-on.