The Uganda Local Government Workers' Union has urged the government to adopt a more systematic approach to fighting corruption in local governments. In a press statement issued on September 21, 2026, the union welcomed the renewed national focus on corruption, accountability, and service delivery. However, it emphasized that the campaign should go beyond targeting individuals after problems have occurred. The union suggested that the government should place greater emphasis on due diligence, proper procedures, strong supervision, and institutional controls to prevent corruption.
According to the Uganda Local Government Workers' Union, local government workers play a crucial role in implementing government programs, maintaining public records, supporting public financial management, and providing essential services to citizens. As such, they should be treated as important partners in strengthening accountability. The union stressed that firm action should be taken against individuals proven to have engaged in corruption, but such action should be based on proper investigations, evidence, and the law. Due process and established procedures must be respected throughout investigations and disciplinary processes.
The union also called for restraint in the way civil servants are treated during anti-corruption operations. Workers should not be subjected to unnecessary humiliation, intimidation, or victimization before investigations have established responsibility. The union argued that fighting corruption should not create a situation where public servants are publicly treated as guilty before the relevant investigations, disciplinary processes, or courts have determined the facts.
The Uganda Local Government Workers' Union proposed strengthening institutions responsible for detecting, investigating, and addressing corruption. It called for adequate funding and facilitation of key accountability institutions, such as the Inspectorate of Government, the Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Criminal Investigations Directorate. Stronger funding, staffing, technical capacity, and logistical support for such institutions would enable them to carry out thorough investigations, audits, follow-ups, and prosecutions where necessary.
The union suggested that a strong anti-corruption system should not depend mainly on identifying individual officials after funds have been lost or services have failed. Instead, it should strengthen the systems that detect risks, identify weaknesses, and ensure that public resources are properly managed from the beginning. The union also called for the government to follow the entire accountability chain whenever corruption is detected, including establishing who authorized, supervised, verified, or certified transactions and whether warning signs were ignored.
The Uganda Local Government Workers' Union proposed the establishment of a National Local Government Integrity, Accountability, and Service Delivery Framework. The framework would introduce common standards for districts, cities, and municipalities and require measurable reporting on integrity, accountability, and service delivery. The union also suggested strengthening District Service Commissions, particularly in areas of merit-based recruitment, transparency of appointments, conflict-of-interest controls, proper record keeping, and accountability for recruitment decisions.
The union called on the Ministry of Local Government to convene a national consultative meeting within 60 days involving local government leaders, accountability institutions, and recognized workers' representatives. The meeting should develop the proposed framework, which would then be piloted in selected local governments before being reviewed after 12 months and progressively rolled out across the country. The union emphasized that the fight against corruption should ultimately lead to stronger institutions, better procedures, responsible leadership, and improved public services.
Key points
- The Uganda Local Government Workers' Union urges the government to adopt a systematic approach to fighting corruption.
- The union proposes strengthening institutions responsible for detecting and investigating corruption.
- A National Local Government Integrity, Accountability, and Service Delivery Framework is suggested to promote transparency and accountability.
