BY DANIEL MUMBYA: Minister for the Presidency Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda has warned Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) against corruption, saying her office will not protect or defend any RDC found involved in corrupt practices.
Babalanda made the remarks on October 4, 2026, while speaking at a fundraising event to support the construction of Ivukula Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Nsinze Town Council, Namutumba District.
The Minister conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, and staff of the Office of the President.
Her warning comes days after the Ministry of Local Government carried out an anti-corruption operation in Pallisa District on October 1, 2026. More than 20 district officials were arrested or interdicted to allow investigations into allegations of gross negligence of duty, abuse of office, mismanagement of public resources and possible financial impropriety.
The Pallisa RDC, Dikusoka Majidu, was among officials named in connection with the Ministry of Local Government’s nationwide “Expose the Corrupt” campaign, led by Minister of State for Local Government Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi.
The concerns raised in Pallisa included alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), missing Government assets, questionable spending on roads and water services, as well as complaints of alleged extortion of PDM and Emyooga beneficiaries.
Babalanda, who oversees RDCs, Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Deputy RDCs and Assistant RDCs under the Presidency, said the developments in Pallisa should serve as a warning to all Government representatives at the district level.
She said RDCs are expected to lead by example and protect Government programmes and resources rather than become part of the problems they are supposed to address.
“I have conducted several capacity-building workshops and cautioned RDCs, Deputies and their Assistants against corrupt tendencies, but some have failed to listen to our guidelines,” she said.
“RDCs are the President’s representatives in the districts. Their core mandate is to monitor Government programmes, protect public resources and ensure that services reach the people equitably. However, some have gone to the extent of requesting fuel from wananchi before going to the field, as if the Government does not facilitate them. I am not willing to defend corrupt RDCs,” Babalanda said.
She said RDCs should not wait for ministers or other senior Government officials to visit their districts before taking action on problems affecting communities.
“They must be proactive. When you see something going wrong, take action. You do not have to wait for a minister to come to your district,” she said.
Babalanda said President Museveni had given renewed emphasis to the fight against corruption, particularly through field monitoring and direct engagement with communities.
She said corruption must be dealt with as soon as it is discovered instead of allowing cases to drag on until evidence is lost.
“The President’s message has been unequivocal: corruption must be confronted at the point of discovery, rather than waiting for months before action is taken, when evidence may have disappeared,” she said.
The Minister added that RDCs and other Government officials accused of extorting money from PDM SACCOs, demanding bribes for jobs or colluding with technical staff to misuse public resources would face the appropriate administrative and criminal processes.
She said disciplinary measures, including recall and interdiction, would be taken where necessary, while cases involving criminal conduct would be referred to the relevant investigative and prosecutorial agencies.
The Pallisa operation is part of a wider Government campaign against corruption in districts across the country.
Babalanda also stressed that integrity, patriotism, accountability and performance would be key considerations in the appointment and retention of RDCs and RCCs.
“This time round, President Museveni will only appoint patriots to take on RDC and RCC responsibilities. If you are corrupt, you cannot be the President’s eye in the district,” she said.
The “Expose the Corrupt” campaign is being carried out through community barazas, field inspections and direct engagement with citizens. The campaign seeks to identify problems affecting service delivery and ensure that Government programmes, including PDM and Emyooga, benefit the people they are intended to serve.
At the same event, Babalanda encouraged residents to take advantage of Government wealth-creation programmes, including PDM, Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and the GROW Project.
She said Government had invested significant resources in programmes aimed at improving household incomes, creating jobs and reducing poverty.
The Minister encouraged residents to embrace the Four-Acre Model, which promotes the use of one acre for coffee or cocoa, another for fruits, a third for food crops and the fourth for pasture for zero-grazing. She also encouraged households to supplement these activities with backyard enterprises such as vegetable growing and poultry keeping.
Babalanda also thanked President Museveni and the people of Busoga for supporting and attending her Thanksgiving ceremony held on September 23, 2026, at Iringa Township Primary School in Buyende District.
She expressed appreciation to everyone who took part in the ceremony and contributed to its success.
In support of the construction of Ivukula SDA Church, Babalanda donated 100 bags of cement towards the ongoing building works.
The Minister’s message at the fundraising event was clear: Government officials entrusted with serving communities must be accountable, while citizens should also take an active role in Government development and wealth-creation programmes.