ANALYSIS: Balaam, SHACU Storm Districts, 115 Corrupt Arrested

KAMPALA. The Anti-Corruption campaign geared to squarely enforce the presidential directive to fight corruption as he started his new term 2026-2031, dubbed “Expose the Corrupt campaign,” has not only taken the country by storm but also touched the mantle of this vice.

Launched in July this year and led by Local Government Minister Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi and his State Minister Hon. Nameere, the drive is gradually shocking the corrupt especially in Local Government into sense.

The effectiveness of the campaign lies in its collective encounters with all anti-graft agencies like the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Police, ISO, Office of the IGG and the local people, which has brought about positive results.

According to its leader Hon. Balaam, after accepting to implement the presidential directive, they engage citizens through Barazas, investigate allegations, follow government projects and verify expenditure to ensure value for money.

The campaign, branded “Expose the Corrupt: Taking the Fight to the People,” was launched in July 2026 after H.E the President declared an Anti-Corruption initiative that ushered in the Kisanga, “No more Sleep, No More Corruption.”

H.E the President tasked the newly appointed ministers, leaders and citizens to work towards exposing and shaming the corrupt to strengthen accountability and protect public resources.

The campaign championed by Hon. Balaam brings government closer to citizens through citizen engagements and Barazas, on-site inspections of government projects, documentary and financial reviews, engineering and value-for-money audits.

From Eastern Uganda to Greater Masaka, Ankole, West Nile and Rwenzori, the campaign is taking the anti-corruption message directly to communities and duty bearers, moving from citizen voices to investigation to action.

Phase I covered Bugisu and Bukedi including Mbale, Sironko, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo, Busia, Tororo, Butaleja, Budaka, Pallisa and Kibuku. Phase II covered Greater Masaka including Masaka City, Masaka, Sembabule and Kalungu.

Phase III covered Greater Ankole including Mbarara, Mbarara City, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Kazo, Isingiro and Ntungamo. Phase IV covered Pallisa, Budaka, Butebo, Kibuku and Moyo. Phase V covered Bushenyi, Rubirizi, Buhweju and Bundibugyo.

This national presence shows deliberate intent to ensure no district is left behind. The strategy is simple: Expose, Investigate, Prosecute, Recover and Protect Public Resources while strengthening accountability to improve service delivery.

According to the official SH-ACU infographic as of 31st August 2026, *Key Actions Recorded* are now clear and verifiable, replacing earlier conflicting media figures of 94 and 80 arrests.

A total of *115 arrests* have been made so far. These include district education officers, health officers, engineers, chief administrative officers, service commission members, headteachers and political leaders implicated in various schemes.

*40 accused persons* have been taken to Court. They face charges ranging from causing financial loss, abuse of office, extortion, forgery and corruption-related offences before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

*60 case files* are under investigation. This indicates active follow-up beyond arrests, ensuring that every citizen complaint raised during Barazas is tracked to logical conclusion and justice.

The *estimated value involved in cases reported is UGX 18 BILLION*. This money was lost through ghost pupils, ghost workers, payroll fraud, Parish Development Model extortion, road fund diversion and shoddy works.

On *Administrative Action, over 120 officials implicated* in corruption, negligence and abuse of office have been *interdicted* to facilitate investigations and protect public resources from further abuse.

SH-ACU provides the investigative, legal and anti-corruption response to credible complaints and findings arising from the campaign. Its contacts are Toll Free 0800202500, WhatsApp 0778202500, Twitter @AntiGraft_SH.

The latest SHACU Anti-Graft X account updates confirm new interdictions and charges. In Busia, education officers were arrested for ghost pupils. In Tororo, 33 officials face PDM extortion charges.

In Kisoro, five officials were arrested for collecting about 200 million shillings from job seekers. In Bundibugyo, the district engineer was charged after a 115 million shilling bridge collapsed.

The campaign has demonstrated that citizens are willing to speak up when given a platform, and that corruption is often exposed through direct interaction with communities and inspection of projects.

In fulfillment of our mandate, SH-ACU will continue focusing on eight commitments: listening to citizens, following the money, inspecting projects, strengthening technical audits, acting quickly and strengthening oversight.

Closing system gaps by addressing recurring weaknesses in procurement, project supervision, enrolment verification, grants management and public revenue collection is now a priority for prevention.

Finally, keeping citizens engaged to make anti-corruption a continuous community conversation — not a one-off campaign — is the surest way to ensure No More Sleep, No More Corruption, No More Tolerance for Non-Performers.