Drama unfolded in Parliament as MPs questioned stalled government projects, with the spotlight turning to Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s anti-corruption campaign targeting district officials accused of mismanaging public funds.
State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang told Parliament that some government projects had stalled following the arrest of district officials responsible for their implementation. However, he limited his response to projects under the education sector.
Ogwang asked Balaam to address wider concerns about accountability in local governments and the impact of the arrests on service delivery.
Following the exchange, the Speaker directed the Government Chief Whip to arrange for Balaam to appear before Parliament and respond to the concerns.
Balaam’s campaign has recently seen arrests and interdictions of officials in districts including Rwampara, Masindi and Pallisa over alleged financial mismanagement.
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The developments have raised questions about how the government can fight suspected corruption while ensuring public projects are completed and essential services are not disrupted.
🇺🇬 EARLIER | LUBEGA FEES DISPUTE: OBOTH DIRECTS REMOVAL OF REMARKS FROM PARLIAMENT’S RECORD
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀’ 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁
Sports State Minister Peter Ogwang responds to concerns raised by Bubulo East County MP John Musila on 13 October 2026 about students sent away from Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals in Iganga following the discovery of forged bank payment slips.𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝟴𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱
Ogwang says the institute discovered discrepancies in June 2026 between payment slips and money credited to its Stanbic Bank account. According to his statement, the bank confirmed that some slips were forged. A review of slips presented between January 2025 and June 2026 identified 80 affected students. Management alleges that students entrusted fees to an intermediary who issued forged slips showing amounts higher than those actually deposited.𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
Ogwang says the institute reported the matter to police on 9 September 2026. Meetings with students, parents and police on 11 September and 1 October produced arrangements for settling outstanding fees. He quotes management’s position: “The Institute maintains that none of the 80 students was suspended or expelled.” Parents facing financial hardship, he says, were permitted to pay in instalments while their children continued studying.𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗱
At the time of the institute’s report, 15 of the affected students had completed their courses. Of the 65 continuing students, nine had cleared their fees and resumed studies, while 56 were still making arrangements. Ogwang undertakes to follow up with the institute to ensure the arrangements are applied fairly, students can resume their studies and the matter is addressed in cooperation with police.𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁
Musila welcomes the minister’s response but calls for a deeper investigation, alleging involvement by the school, the bank and a banking agent. He also disputes the account of how students were treated, saying some students and parents were ordered to leave at around 8pm.𝗧𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁
Bugabula County North MP John Teira raises a point of order, saying Musila is a parent at the institute and has paid the disputed fees balance. Teira also says Musila returned his student the previous week without discussing the matter with management. He questions whether Musila is presenting the full facts to the House.𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀
Musila confirms he has been a parent at the institute for more than ten years, saying this does not prevent him from speaking for other affected families. He asks to table a document he says is genuine: “The children paid, the bank accepted, the school cleared them, all clearances are here.”𝗢𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth tells MPs to disclose personal interests: “If you have interest, the law does not say you should not have interest, but declare it.” He then directs that Musila’s statements which he describes as inflammatory be expunged from Parliament’s record and moves the House to the next item.Photos by Parliament
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) October 14, 2026
