President Yoweri Museveni has defended his decision to appoint Minister Balaam Ateenyi and Justine Nameere to key positions in the Ministry of Local Government, saying their outspoken and confrontational nature was deliberate in tackling corruption at the grassroots level.
Speaking on Thursday during the national budget presentation, Museveni said he deliberately selected individuals with strong personalities, arguing they would help confront officials accused of mismanaging public funds, particularly under programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
He acknowledged public criticism over the appointments, noting that both Balaam and Nameere have been widely described as controversial figures due to their social media presence and outspoken public commentary.
“People have been saying I appointed cantankerous and quarrelsome people in local government positions… Nameere is famous for quarreling, so if you want to quarrel, go and quarrel with her,” Museveni said.
The President defended the approach, arguing that Uganda needed leaders who would aggressively challenge wrongdoing rather than remain silent in the face of alleged theft of public resources.
He said many officials responsible for oversight at the local level had failed to act despite clear signs of mismanagement in public service delivery.
“There is no medicine in government hospitals, but you have government officials, the sub-county chiefs, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer. They need to be strict. They are all there, but the drugs are being stolen. That is what I can no longer tolerate,” he said.
Museveni further argued that fear of confrontation had weakened accountability systems, saying those who speak out against corruption are often labelled as disrespectful or ill-mannered.
“Because here in Uganda, you are not even allowed to point out bad elements. When you call someone a thief they say you have bad manners. This is how you are going to destroy the country,” he added.
The President maintained that government structures already exist to monitor service delivery, but enforcement had been weak due to lack of firmness among local leaders.
The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of service delivery in Uganda, with increasing public pressure over corruption allegations in health facilities, education programmes, and community development funds.
Museveni’s defence of the appointments is likely to intensify debate over his governance style, particularly his preference for unconventional political actors in key administrative roles.