Parliament Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth has defended Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s ongoing school inspections, saying efforts to expose corruption should continue despite concerns over how some teachers and headteachers are being treated.
Oboth made the remarks on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, while meeting a delegation from the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA), following concerns raised about the impact of the inspections on schools and teachers.
“Corruption by nature is embarrassing. And one of the punishments is embarrassment. So until we make it embarrassing…” Oboth said.
His comments came amid criticism from local leaders, legislators and teachers’ representatives over the manner in which some school administrators suspected of wrongdoing have been handled during the inspections.
Kamuli District LC V Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala told the Speaker that some teachers had reportedly deserted their schools because of fears surrounding the ongoing operations, particularly as candidate classes prepare for examinations.
Oboth, however, maintained that the inspections should continue, arguing that corruption in public institutions must be addressed.
“The inspection should continue. Children should tell their parents, please stop the stealing,” he said.
The inspections led by Balaam have targeted allegations including ghost pupils, inflated enrolment figures, unauthorised fees and misuse of school resources. Several education and local government officials have reportedly been arrested during the operations.
However, legislators and the Uganda National Teachers’ Union have separately raised concerns about public humiliation of headteachers and called for suspected cases of corruption to be handled through established investigative and legal procedures.
Oboth acknowledged the need for a balance between fighting corruption and protecting workers, saying monitoring methods should be properly agreed upon to prevent excesses.
The debate comes as Balaam’s anti-corruption campaign continues to attract both support and criticism, with authorities seeking to address alleged misuse of public resources while education stakeholders raise concerns about the impact of the operations on teachers and learners.
🇺🇬 “ONE OF THE PUNISHMENTS IS EMBARRASSMENT” — OBOTH ON CORRUPTION
As MPs debated Minister Balaam’s school visits and the treatment of teachers, Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth said Parliament must balance workers’ dignity with the fight against corruption.
“Corruption by nature… pic.twitter.com/Dktyyd8nEv
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) September 29, 2026
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