BUSIA, Uganda | September 2026 – The anti-corruption meeting convened by the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi, turned into a moment of reckoning for Busia District and Busia Municipality today at the Busia District Hall.
Hundreds of concerned citizens, local leaders and whistleblowers turned up for the accountability meeting meant to account for government programs. What followed was an avalanche of allegations detailing how service delivery has been crippled by alleged theft, shoddy work, and extortion.
Minister Balaam listened to testimonies for hours and ordered immediate forensic, technical and special audits and interdictions.
USMID Roads, Lights and Market on the Spot
Residents told the Minister that USMID roads valued at UGX 3.03 billion and contracted to Dott Services Ltd were only 65% done by March 2023 despite extensions, with a Value for Money score of 2.78 out of 10. They cited gross over-billing in kerbing and road base works.
Street lights also came under fire. Of 246 double-arm lights that were supposed to be installed, only 125 were installed, with a deficit of 121 lights, yet full payment was made. UGX 168 million for Border Road was paid with no tangible work, while Alupe Road culverts were too narrow and rejected culverts were allegedly reused.
The Busia Main Market was flagged for poor construction away from the approved architectural plan. Traders said there is no water supply inside, no natural lighting, and the basement floods whenever it rains, destroying goods. Market dues are allegedly collected in cash, not banked and not receipted, with no clear revenue reflected in the municipal budget.
Over 15 Division roads under URF and DDEG funds, including Osanga, Cemetery, Mugungu, Luguma, Namudia, Majengo, Sofia Way and Okobio roads, were listed as eaten, with money released but no work done.
In the district, Busia-Busumba-Buyengo Road has not been done despite funding for three financial years, Amungura-Ndaiga Road remains impassable and bushy, and Masafu-Mutumba Road was washed away after the first rains. Residents alleged the district hurriedly tried to redo the road on 18th September after learning the Minister was coming.
Education Sector in Crisis
The education sector drew the loudest anger. Residents reported 117 schools but only 38 substantive headteachers, with 54 deputy headteacher vacancies and 63 education assistants denied promotion for over five years, with promotion allegedly for sale.
They further alleged sale of jobs, with teaching jobs sold at UGX 5 to 7 million each, medical workers at UGX 8 to 10 million, and Sub-county and Parish Chiefs at UGX 10 to 15 million, leaving over 250 critical posts vacant for two to three years despite available wage.
Buwumba and Busia Border Seed Secondary Schools, each receiving UGX 1.8 billion, are allegedly operating without UNEB centre numbers, without equipped labs, without water and without staff houses, yet charging fees. Classroom blocks under SFG in Buwumba, Habuleke, Bulwamai and Amonikakinei primary schools have cracked walls but were certified complete, while 5-stance pit latrines collapsed within months.
Illegal charges were cited across the board: UPE schools charging UGX 50,000 to 100,000, USE schools charging UGX 100,000 to 150,000 and up to UGX 360,000 at Busia Senior Secondary School, PLE official fee of UGX 34,000 charged at UGX 100,000, and UCE official fee of UGX 164,000 charged at UGX 250,000 to 300,000. At Buhobe S.S, 13 students reportedly missed university admission due to non-submission of PUJAB forms.
Other irregularities raised include a 10,000 litre Gentex water tank at Marachi Primary School procured at UGX 12 million against a market price of UGX 2.2 million, ghost workers where 2,067 employees failed national payroll validation, ghost pupils with enrolment inflated by 500 per school, and a pension budget of UGX 1.2 billion against an actual need of 800 million.
Health, PDM and Smuggling
In health, residents said essential medicines run out two weeks after supply by National Medical Stores at Masafu HC IV and Busia HC IV, with drugs allegedly sold. C-section is allegedly charged at UGX 400,000 and mortuary services at Masafu HC IV at UGX 280,000. The maternity ward at Busia HC II, worth UGX 279.9 million, remains incomplete since October 2023 despite payment.
Under the Parish Development Model, poor women in the municipality reported receiving less than UGX 1 million instead of the approved amount.
Police were accused of promoting smuggling through notorious checkpoints known as “Points” along Sofia, Marachi, Customs, Mawero and Alupe, with deployment allegedly upon payment to the OC Station, Mr. Kato. Over 35 cases at Busia CPS have reportedly stalled at CID and the State Attorney due to bribery.
RDC Office and Political Leadership Accused
The office of the RDC was accused of failing to monitor government programs and instead commissioning incomplete projects. Residents also alleged monetization of election security deployment and intimidation of whistleblowers, including Wandera Bernard, whose name is allegedly publicly shouted by youth facilitated with public funds.
Mayor Sadiq Amin of Busia Municipal Council was accused of sabotaging trade order by inciting hawkers and roadside sellers back to streets and road reserves, making USMID roads congested, and of inciting civil servants to boycott the 23rd Baraza. He was further accused of illegally swearing in at 8pm two rejected executive members, Odero Juma and Wanyama Bashir, who are also alleged suppliers of culverts involved in shoddy work, and the Town Clerk of continuing to pay them as executives.
Councillor Wejuli Stanley was accused of frustrating recruitment by grabbing the Speaker’s mace when council sat to approve the District Service Commission, leading to failure to recruit for financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26.
Chief Finance Officer Wakoli Borris Patrick was accused of retaining government vehicle UR 1950R since 2020 when he was Internal Auditor and using it on his farm.
