The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Aisha Naluzze Batala, has challenged local government leaders in Fort Portal City and Kabarole District to strengthen monitoring of funds disbursed under the Parish Development Model (PDM), warning that weak oversight could undermine efforts to improve household incomes.
Naluzze said local governments should take primary responsibility for tracking beneficiaries and ensuring the money is invested in the income-generating activities for which it was provided. She was speaking during a meeting with political leaders and civil servants at the district headquarters in Kitumba, on Thursday.
The IGG questioned whether local governments were adequately monitoring how beneficiaries spend PDM funds, citing a media interview in which a beneficiary reportedly said he had received one million Shillings but used the money to buy a television and marry a wife.
She said such cases raised concerns about the effectiveness of local-level supervision and the extent to which public funds were achieving their intended purpose. The Parish Development Model is a government initiative aimed at moving households from subsistence production into the money economy by supporting income-generating activities at the parish level.
Naluzze said that although the Inspectorate of Government has a mandate to monitor government programmes and promote accountability, local governments are better positioned to follow up beneficiaries and identify misuse of funds at the grassroots.
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Naluzze also urged district and city authorities to strengthen supervision of other government-funded projects, including roads, schools and health facilities, to prevent inflated costs, misuse of public funds and the abandonment of incomplete works. During the meeting, local government leaders raised concerns about the conduct of anti-corruption efforts and called for stronger cooperation between the Inspectorate and local authorities.
Peter Wandera, the Fort Portal City physical planner, questioned the roles of the various agencies involved in fighting corruption, including the Inspectorate of Government, the Anti-Corruption Unit and anti-corruption campaigns led by government officials.
Wandera said the involvement of multiple agencies sometimes creates pressure and tension among civil servants. He also questioned why local government officials appeared to face greater scrutiny than their counterparts in ministries, departments and other government agencies.
Grace Ahumuza, the female councillor representing Busoro Town Council in Kabarole District, said political leaders were sometimes left without updates or feedback on investigations into alleged corruption in their areas.
She asked the Inspectorate to improve communication with local leaders by providing updates on investigations, where appropriate, and involving them in efforts to address corruption. Kabarole District Chairperson Ruben Kimome described corruption as a major obstacle to national development and urged civil servants to uphold integrity and accountability in the execution of their duties.
Fort Portal City Mayor Rev. Willy Kintu Muhanga pledged the city’s commitment to fighting corruption through transparent revenue collection, proper accountability for public funds and openness in procurement processes.
The IGG’s visit was intended to familiarise her with the Inspectorate’s regional operations and strengthen cooperation with local governments in the fight against corruption.
The engagement comes amid continued government efforts to improve service delivery and household incomes through public investment programmes, underscoring the importance of effective monitoring, transparent resource management and accountability at the local government level.