Lyantonde — Hon. Balaam came to Lyantonde to face the reality on the ground: a district with money, with projects, with land, water, schools and hospitals — but a district where the people are not getting value for what government has already given them.
From planning to roads, from water to health, from education to PDM, from jobs to land, Lyantonde is a story of shoddy work, extortion, and government property being turned into private property. And Hon. Balaam said it must stop.
A District Without A Plan
Lyantonde has no physical development plan, yet structures continue to be approved without guidance.
The District Planner is not independent, and is under pressure from technical staff. Development in the district is being directed from above, without a clear plan, without order, and without accountability.
The Road That Washed Away
The Kasambya Road to Kinuuka Road was constructed in the 2024/2025 financial year at a cost of UGX 1.1 billion, paid from Uganda Road Fund.
Within months, the road was destroyed by rain, forcing the district to spend more money to open it again.
A road that costs over a billion shillings should not disappear after one rainy season. Poor workmanship and poor supervision turned a public road into a public waste.
The Wall That Collapsed Before Handover
At Kabetemere Health Centre III, a retaining wall was built in 2025/2026 at a cost of UGX 190 million.
On 20th October 2026, the wall collapsed, destroying a staff house — before the contractor had even handed it over to the district.
Poor workmanship, poor supervision and poor design from the Ministry of Health are behind the collapse. The contractor has since committed to construct another retaining wall.
A wall that collapses before handover is not a mistake. It is evidence that someone did not do their job.
Water For Production That Produces Nothing
In Kaliro Sub-County, the Kyenengire water dam in Kanoni village, Kabatema parish, was built about seven years ago at UGX 53 million — with no value for money.
Instead of excavating a new dam, two existing community ponds were merged together by removing the barrier in between, without actual excavation.
Today, the dam which was a source of water for about eight villages is covered by bush.
In Kamusenene LC1, Bwamulamira parish, Kinuuka Sub-County, the Kamusenene Community Valley Dam land is under threat. Two residents contributed 5 acres some 19 years ago to allow construction of a community valley dam. Now the government fence has been destroyed and there is an attempt to repossess the land, claiming the land given belongs to the family and not the individual. Government land is being taken back, and the community is crying out.
In Makukuru village, Kyakuterekera parish, Kaliro Sub-County, another land crisis is unfolding. The land is formerly Ranch Number 4 and former veterinary camp, measuring 98.155 hectares. The Ministry of Agriculture appointed a caretaker, who hired both farmers and cattle keepers — 51 in total — who refused to leave, claiming it was free government land. There are fears that some of the land has been encroached on by neighbours. Government must now open boundaries and fence off the land.
Education: Illegal Fees Chasing Children Out Of School
Parents in Lyantonde are facing illegal fees in both primary and secondary government-aided schools, and the fees are pushing learners out of school.
The figures speak for themselves:
- St John Comprehensive Secondary School — Shs633,000
- Lyantonde Secondary School, Kasambya — Shs427,000
- St Gonzaga S.S Kijjukizo — Shs504,300
- Kaliro Primary School — Shs302,000
At Kabatema Primary School, a headteacher was arrested for illegal fees imposed on pupils before seating for exams.
At Rwamabara Seed Secondary School, the headteacher is alleged to have been charging an extra Shs20,000 per student for a bus for a long period, and has failed to account for the funds. Teachers in the same school are alleged to have been absconding for a long period without being reported.
UPE and USE are free. No child should be chased from an exam because the parent has not paid illegal fees.
Health: Extortion At The Hospital
Lyantonde Hospital has become a place where patients are charged for what should be free. Some action has already been taken, including interdiction of errant officers, but the problem runs deep.
On 13th October 2025, a clinical officer at Lyantonde District Hospital was arrested for allegedly extorting UGX 50,000 from a patient. The money was recovered.
On 28th March 2026, a resident of Kaliro Town Council was allegedly charged Shs250,000 by an ambulance driver when his patient was referred to Mbarara Referral Hospital. Later the patient died, and the driver allegedly charged another Shs150,000 to carry the deceased back to Lyantonde.
Patients are allegedly charged Shs200,000 for fuel for referrals to Masaka and Mbarara referral hospitals.
There are also reports of medical workers allegedly charging between Shs100,000 to Shs150,000 for caesarean operations.
A hospital is a place to save life, not to make money from suffering.
PDM: Money Meant For The Poor, Stolen From The Poor
The Parish Development Model was meant to lift the poor out of poverty. In Lyantonde, it has been turned into a hunting ground.
A parish chief of Kisaluwoko allegedly fraudulently used a beneficiary’s mobile number to withdraw Shs1,000,000 on 1st June 2026. He was later arrested, the money was recovered, he was interdicted, and a criminal case was opened against him.
On 15th April 2026, a parish chief for Kirowoza in Lyantonde Rural was arrested for allegedly illegally charging Shs10,000 per beneficiary for certificates. Shs500,000 was recovered and refunded back to beneficiaries.
On 5th November 2024, a parish chief of Namutamba parish together with his vice chairperson of the vetting committee were arrested on allegation of extortion. They were allegedly charging between UGX 5,000 to UGX 20,000 from every beneficiary to be included in the system. UGX 2M was recovered from them.
In Katebe parish, a parish chief allegedly forged signatures to release money to three accounts.
A CDO in Kaliro Sub-County is alleged to extort Shs50,000 from beneficiaries for entering them into the system.
A SACCO treasurer in Katale, Kaliro Town Council, was allegedly directed to get UGX 50,000 from beneficiaries to upload them onto the system.
PDM money is not for chiefs, not for CDOs, not for SACCO leaders. It is for the poor.
Jobs For Sale, Land Board For Sale
Illegal sale of government jobs by the former secretary of the District Service Commission is a public concern in Lyantonde. Following a lot of allegations of extortion from job applicants, he was transferred to another department. There are many victims, but many fear coming out because some are working at the district.
In the District Land Board, there is a public outcry about the secretary of the Land Board, who allegedly charges members of the public between UGX 3M to UGX 8M for land registration and other associated land transactions.
Government Land Sold At Mukokoma And Lyantonde Town Council
At Mukokoma, government land that had been earmarked for a market was allocated and sold.
The land is comprised on Plot 29, Kabula Block 74, located in Mukokoma, Katovu Parish, Lyantonde Sub-County, on the Lyantonde-Masaka highway. It measures 13.7 acres and was bought from a proprietor in 1989 by Rakai District Local Government, and was later handed over to Lyantonde District specifically for Lyantonde Sub-County for purposes of revenue collection.
Between 2013 and 2017, the then Sub-County leaders of Lyantonde Sub-County allegedly illegally sub-divided the land to themselves and sold sixty-seven (67) plots, leaving out one hundred (100) people who had paid UGX 15,000 for market stalls. Currently, only one acre is remaining, and the funds collected from the sale were not accounted for.
In Lyantonde Town Council, a resident is alleged to have built a commercial building within Town Council land. He claims to have bought the said plot in 2012 but started building in 2018, with possible collusion from town council authorities. The District Physical Planner and former Town Clerk who allowed construction to go on should be investigated for their possible role.
In the Trade Order enforcement from March 2026 to May 2026, a business owner along High Street accused town council authorities of conniving with a guest house owner who has allegedly encroached on her plot, blocked the corridor and installed a water tank on top of her building. Her efforts to seek assistance have been futile.
Environment: Petrol Stations In Wetlands
Mushrooming petrol stations, some located in wetlands, are now a concern in Lyantonde. The Environmental Officer has failed to guide the district, claiming there is no gazetted wetland in Lyantonde.
Hon. Balaam’s Message To Lyantonde
Lyantonde has money. Lyantonde has projects. Lyantonde has land, water, schools and hospitals. What Lyantonde has lacked is accountability.
The people of Lyantonde are not asking for favours. They are asking for what is already theirs: a road that lasts, a wall that stands, a dam that holds water, a school without illegal fees, a hospital without extortion, PDM money without thieves, jobs without bribes, and government land that is not for sale.
Every issue raised at Lyantonde District Hall will be followed up and those who have been stealing from the people will have to answer.
