DR. OPUL JOSEPH, PhD: Is Balaam the fearless lion of universal anti-corruption revolution that NRM’s 40 year rule has been yearning for? Is cabinet waiting for another whistle to join war?

Dear fellow Ugandans and global community, salaams from Gulu University, Quality Education Consultancy Ltd (QECL), OPUL Skilling Foundation Africa (OSFA), Rotary Clubs of Uganda and Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS).

Uganda is currently ranked 148th out of 182 countries globally in the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International 2025. The Ugandan treasury is like a granary with a hole in the floor no matter how much grain is poured in, the rats feast first. According to a survey by the Inspectorate of Government together with the German Society for International Co-operation, Uganda loses about UGX 20 trillion every year to corruption across nearly every sector of the economy; against the FY 2026/27 budget of UGX 84.39 trillion, that is roughly 23% of the national budget disappearing into the pockets of the few instead of serving the many. As the proverb says, “When the fence begins to eat the garden, the harvest is doomed.” It is like drawing water with a basket while celebrating a full well. A humorous tale tells of a man who hired a watchman only to discover the watchman needed protection from the thief in the mirror a satire not far from the public purse when the guardians become the looters. The Bible warns, “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household” (Proverbs 15:27), while “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3). Corruption is not merely a thief of money; it is a silent termite that hollows the nation’s future, stealing hospitals before they are built, roads before they are paved, classrooms before children enter them, and medicines before patients receive them. Until honesty is prized above greed, Uganda will keep chasing prosperity with one foot on the accelerator and the other trapped in the mud of corruption.

It’s from the above exposition that the President of Republic of Uganda -Yoweri Museveni’s primary message to his newly sworn-in Cabinet is “Kisanja No Sleep”, demanding strict accountability, hard work, and zero tolerance for corruption. He has directed ministers to focus on active wealth creation, service delivery, and moving ordinary Ugandans out of subsistence into the money economy.Core Pillars of the New Administration: Wealth Creation & Poverty Eradication: Shifting the focus from infrastructure to active household wealth creation through initiatives like the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, Zero Tolerance to Corruption: Demanding transparency and responsible use of public resources to ensure government programs directly benefit ordinary citizens, Economic Transformation: The administration is targeting an ambitious scale-up of the national economy, focusing on industrialization, digital transformation, and agriculture and Strict Monitoring: Ministers have been tasked with personally monitoring government projects to ensure execution and eliminate wastefulness.

Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi is the Minister of Local Government in Uganda, having assumed office following his appointment by President Yoweri Museveni has started to impement directives of his boss in Eastern Uganda. Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s nationwide anti-corruption drive has exposed widespread local government inefficiencies and routine oversight failures across Uganda. Key findings uncovered during his field inspections include:Ghost Workers: Audits of payrolls revealed absent staff and non-existent “ghost workers,” notably at Busiu Health Centre IV in Mbale District.School Scams: Investigations in the Bugisu sub-region and Namisindwa district exposed inflated enrollment figures used to siphon funds, illegal school fees being charged to students, and poor sanitation that led to school closures.Job Peddling: Members of the Kayunga District Service Commission were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly selling government jobs to unqualified individuals.Substandard Public Works: Inspections highlighted abandoned or poorly executed district road and infrastructure projects.To combat this, Minister Balaam has ordered the interdiction and arrest of compromised accounting officers, district engineers, and education officials. 

As many Ugandans clap hands for Hon. Balaam’s bold footsteps against corruption, wisdom whispers that one tree does not make a forest. Where are the government’s technical, political, and security engines-the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), State House Anti-Corruption Unit, specialized police units, PISOs, DISOs, RISOs, RDCs, CAOs, District chairpersons, councils, NRM chairpersons and entire structures, and the entire machinery entrusted with guarding the public purse? The government has put in place several anti-corruption legal frameworks, including the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2010, and the Public Finance Management Act of 2015. These laws, like shining armor, are designed to combat the beast of corruption. Yet, as Proverbs 22:3 reminds us, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Despite these legal skeletons, the flesh and blood of corruption continue to thrive, revealing big cracks in the institutional armor. Uganda’s 2025 goal, as outlined in the National Development Plan, is to climb the ranks on the Corruption Perception Index, but recent reports place us in the “corrupt and complacent” zone. 

Are they merely watching the play from the front row while one actor carries the whole stage? As the proverb says, when the shepherd sleeps, the hyena celebrates. The Bible reminds us, “To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48), while corruption itself is like a termite silent in its appetite but ruthless in bringing down the strongest house. A humorous tale tells of a village where everyone waited for one brave man to chase away a monkey stealing bananas, only to discover the monkey had harvested the entire plantation before the meeting ended. Uganda must not become that village. Hon. Balaam’s lion-hearted resolve is admirable, but even the fiercest lion cannot hunt with sleeping cubs; the fight against corruption demands that every institution awaken, for many hands make light work, and justice, like a river, must flow from every corner not from one courageous soul alone. 

Does this mean President Museveni is like a pope without dependable bishops, priests, or catechists? It is hard to imagine such lugubrious acts unfolding beneath the gaze of the vast army of officials he has appointed. As the saying goes, “A fish rots from the head,” yet another proverb reminds us that “when the shepherd slumbers, the wolves celebrate.” It is like hiring a hundred watchmen only for the thieves to become their supervisors a village joke with a bitter ending. Scripture asks, “If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8), while Lord Acton’s enduring warning echoes that “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” If corruption is a termite quietly hollowing out the pillars of the house, then a palace filled with silent guardians becomes less a fortress of accountability and more a cathedral where the choir sings while the roof slowly caves in.

Why the Entire Cabinet Should Follow Balam’s Roar

Balam’s bravery is a clarion call: “If one lion roars, others must join or risk being left behind.” The entire cabinet holds the keys to Uganda’s integrity.They possess formidable human resources, technical expertise, and security apparatus capable of detecting, prosecuting, and preventing corruption. The appointment of Balam as Minister of Anti-Corruption would be a game-changer, but until then, they must emulate his boldness. Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The cabinet should sharpen their resolve, shed complacency, and act decisively. The biblical story of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls underscores that collective effort, guided by strong leadership, can rebuild a corrupt nation. It’s time for Uganda’s leaders to step up, roar like lions, and turn the tide.

When You Chase the Hyena, Expect the Dust: The Rocky Road in the Fight against Corruption

Hon. Balaam’s resolve to confront corruption may resemble a farmer trying to weed a garden where some weeds have learned to wear flowers beautiful on the outside but choking the harvest beneath. In Uganda, where corruption has often been described as a “cancer” eating away at national progress, anyone who dares to expose it should expect powerful resistance: entrenched interests protecting lucrative networks, political interference, bureaucratic delays, intimidation, misinformation, selective enforcement, public skepticism born from years of unfulfilled promises, and the temptation to compromise along the way. As the African proverb says, “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you,” while another reminds us, “A tree full of fruit attracts the most stones.” A humorous village tale tells of a man who announced he would chase every monkey from his banana plantation, only to discover the monkeys had already become members of the committee judging his performance. Such is the satire of fighting corruption where some gatekeepers may also guard the very gates they secretly unlock. The Bible cautions, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11), and “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice” (Proverbs 16:8). Success, therefore, will demand courage, unwavering integrity, strong institutions, public support, protection for whistleblowers, impartial law enforcement, and a willingness to let justice wear no party colours, for as the saying goes, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” and no nation can build a palace of prosperity on a foundation of hidden termites.

Recommendation:

Sweeping the Staircase from the Top: A Blueprint for Defeating Corruption in Uganda

To defeat corruption in Uganda, the broom must first sweep the rooftop before it reaches the doorstep, for as the African proverb says, “A fish rots from the head.” The fight should begin with uncompromising accountability for political and technical leaders at every level, backed by independent anti-corruption institutions free from political influence, mandatory public asset declarations, lifestyle audits, transparent electronic procurement, open budgeting, swift prosecution of offenders, and full recovery of stolen public assets, because “the truth fears no investigation.” Every public office should become a glass house where citizens can see how every shilling is earned and spent, while whistle-blowers are protected instead of persecuted. 

As Scripture reminds us, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely” (Proverbs 10:9), and “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed” (Luke 12:2). A humorous village tale tells of a chief who bought the biggest padlock for the granary but handed the key to the village thief; the granary emptied while everyone admired the shiny lock proof that institutions without integrity are like umbrellas full of holes. As the saying goes, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” and Lord Acton’s warning still echoes: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” When both political and technical corruption are confronted from the highest office to the smallest desk, public service becomes a sacred trust rather than a marketplace, and Uganda can replace the smoke of graft with the fresh air of justice, proving that when every shepherd guards the flock, even the wolves lose their appetite.

Conclusion

Everlasting History never remembers those who watched corruption grow; it remembers those who uprooted it. If Hon. Balaam’s roar inspires the entire Cabinet, Uganda may finally exchange the smoke of graft for the fresh air of justice. As Proverbs 10:9 declares, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,” and as Martin Luther King Jr. observed, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression of the wicked but the silence of the good.” The anti-corruption struggle must become a national covenant, not an individual crusade. When every minister, technocrat, security agency, and citizen becomes a faithful shepherd, corruption will lose its hiding place. Only then will Uganda prove that a nation built on integrity stands like a rock, but one built on corruption collapses like a house eaten from within by termites.

Dr. OPUL JOSEPH, PhD

Lecturer, Gulu University
Founder, Quality Education Consultancy Ltd (QECL)
CEO, OPUL Skilling Foundation Africa (OSFA)
President, Rotary Club of Soroti Central
Life Member, Uganda Red Cross Society

ceo@opulskillingfoundationafrica.org 

 

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