I was prompted to write this article after observing that many Ugandans continue to face serious service delivery challenges, even though the central government releases billions of shillings to lower local governments every financial year. The question we pose as the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (Department for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis) is simple: with all the billions being released to local governments, are citizens actually feeling the impact of these resources?
Our concern is not based on speculation. It is supported by a 2025 study by Dr. Julius Arinaitwe and Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kaazara titled The Discipline Deficit: Why Uganda’s Pursuit of High-Integrity Citizenship Falters Amidst Endemic Corruption. The authors argue that Uganda suffers from a widespread discipline deficit, manifested through ghost workers in the public service, the misappropriation of public funds, nepotism in recruitment and promotion, and a general disregard for established procedures and protocols in government operations. Such practices undermine public confidence, weaken accountability, and ultimately diminish the quality of essential public services that citizens depend on every day.
This concern is reinforced by the fact that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development releases billions of shillings every quarter to local governments across Uganda. Auditor General reports and other official sources consistently confirm that these funds are disbursed. Yet some districts fail to fully utilize their allocations and return unspent balances to the central treasury, while others struggle to account for the resources entrusted to them. The critical question, therefore, is not whether money is being released, but whether it is translating into better schools, health facilities, roads, water services, and other essential public services that directly improve citizens’ lives.
If accountability is the missing link between government funding and improved service delivery, then independent field verification becomes indispensable. It is in this context that the field operations being undertaken by Hon. Balaam Barugahara and Justine Nameere deserve attention. Their engagements with local leaders and communities provide an opportunity to assess whether public resources are producing measurable improvements in service delivery and whether local governments are fulfilling their responsibilities. When citizens consistently fail to experience the benefits of public spending, confidence in government institutions inevitably declines. Some people may disagree with this argument, but the fact remains that government expenditure must be felt by its citizens.
Ayub Mukisa, PhD
Executive Director, Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC)
Email: [email protected]
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article