Rubanda District Chairperson Steven Ampeire Kasyaba has criticized the manner in which the Ministry of Local Government leadership is handling corruption allegations, calling for investigations to be conducted through lawful channels instead of public confrontations and premature judgments.
Kasyaba said the fight against corruption must remain a top priority, but stressed that government officials accused of wrongdoing deserve to be handled through proper legal and administrative frameworks that guarantee fairness and accountability.The district chairperson argued that publicly naming, suspending, or portraying suspects as criminals before investigations are concluded can damage their reputation, violate their rights, and create challenges when cases eventually reach courts of law.According to Kasyaba, government institutions must avoid actions that could expose taxpayers to unnecessary legal battles, noting that officials whose rights are breached during disciplinary procedures have the right to seek compensation through the courts.
He questioned the continued discussion around the estimated Shs9 trillion lost to corruption every year, saying the country’s focus should be on empowering key accountability institutions to investigate cases, gather evidence, and ensure successful prosecutions.Kasyaba warned that undermining institutions responsible for fighting corruption, including the Inspectorate of Government, CID, DPP, Auditor General’s Office, and Financial Intelligence Authority, could weaken efforts to hold offenders accountable.
He called for a more coordinated and professional approach, saying corruption cases should be based on thorough investigations and strong evidence rather than public pressure or political statements that may interfere with justice.The Rubanda leader urged Minister Balaam Barugahara and Deputy Minister Justin Nameere to allow relevant authorities to handle corruption matters through established procedures, citing previous cases within the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs as an example of institutional handling without unnecessary public exposure.
