Senior Presidential Advisor on Greater Masaka Region Justine Nameere has defended President Yoweri Museveni’s renewed pledge to tackle corruption, arguing that critics are overlooking the country’s historical context and the structural reforms needed to make the fight effective.
Speaking during an interview on UBC Uganda on Wednesday night, Nameere pushed back against skepticism that has followed Museveni’s latest commitment, made during his swearing-in ceremony earlier this week.
The president vowed to prioritize accountability in his new term, declaring a tougher approach to corruption across government institutions.
Nameere said such criticism fails to account for the conditions Museveni inherited when he took power in 1986.
According to her, Uganda was emerging from years of political instability and economic collapse, making governance reforms a gradual process.
“When Museveni took power, the country was in ruins. He started from a negative position, not even the bare minimum,” she said. “If people are to judge his leadership fairly, it should be within the last two or three terms, not the 40 years.”
Her remarks come amid growing public debate over whether the president’s repeated pledges on corruption will translate into tangible action.
Critics have pointed to past commitments that yielded limited results, raising concerns about accountability within public institutions.
However, Nameere insisted that the current term presents a more practical opportunity to address systemic weaknesses that have enabled corruption to persist.
She argued that beyond political will, reforms must focus on how government systems operate.
“If we are to fight corruption, we must simplify procurement and governance systems,” she said. “Every extra signature creates another opportunity for bribery.”
She emphasized the need for digitization of government processes, noting that automation could reduce human discretion and limit opportunities for rent-seeking.
Increased transparency, she added, would also allow citizens to track public spending and hold officials accountable.
“Most government processes should be digitized, and there must be greater transparency in how government operates,” Nameere stated.
Her defense aligns with broader government messaging that links anti-corruption efforts to efficiency and service delivery