Museveni urges public servants to resist corruption and drive inclusive development

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President Museveni has issued a strong call to public servants to resist corruption and actively support government programs that are transforming the country’s economy.

Museveni made the call in a speech read by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Monday at Kololo Independence Grounds as Uganda joined other African countries to commemorate the 14th Africa Public Service Day.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja delivering the president's speech at Kololo Independence Grounds as Uganda joined other African countries to commemorate the 14th Africa Public Service Day. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

Held under the continental theme “Enhancing the Agility and Resilience of Institutions to Achieve Equitable Governance and Rapidly Address Historical Service Delivery Gaps,” the celebration brought together government officials, civil servants, development partners, and citizens to reflect on the critical role of public service in national development.

Warning against corruption

In his statement, President Museveni reechoed his warning against corruption, calling it a “leech” that continues to drain Uganda’s progress and erode public trust.

“Please resist from all forms of corruption; corruption slows down Uganda’s development,” Museveni said. “This will not be tolerated by the patriots who fought for the liberation of Uganda and Africa,” Museveni stated.

He emphasised that the NRM’s liberation struggle was built on the foundation of clean, accountable governance and that corruption undermines this legacy. “Corruption cripples service delivery and stifles investment. We must not let that happen,” he added.

Public service as a pillar of transformation

Museveni highlighted the indispensable role public service plays in implementing government programs aimed at social and economic transformation.

“I urge the public service to support a pro-people agenda in the NRM. Ensure free education for our children in government schools. Ensure that drugs are not stolen in our government facilities. The funds, like the Parish Development Model (PDM), are to lift all Ugandans from poverty,” he said.

Museveni said the transformation of Uganda since 1986 has been achieved because of prioritising security, infrastructure, and strategic economic sectors such as agriculture, industry, services, and information and communication technology (ICT).

“There were no functioning institutions when the NRM came to power—no army to ensure security, no police to keep law and order, and the public service was inefficient due to sectarianism,” he recalled.

He noted that “NRM has since restored peace and stability, built roads and power plants, and created industrial parks across all regions.”

He added that these developments have enabled surplus production in sectors like maize, milk, bananas, and eggs. “What remains is aligning our institutions to ensure services reach all citizens efficiently,” he said.

Market-driven economy, good investment climate

The President reiterated Uganda’s strategic move towards a market-driven economy, linking domestic production with regional and continental markets.

“A modern economy is based on commercialised agriculture, industries, ICT, and services—all supported by an efficient public service,” Museveni said.

He emphasised that “Uganda has a favourable investment climate: peace, infrastructure, and a growing market of 46 million people—and access to East Africa and Africa’s 1.3 billion consumers.”

He cited efforts such as the Uganda Development Bank and government programs like Emyooga and the Youth Livelihood Fund as avenues to provide cheap credit and boost productivity.

“All government efforts must now align to ensure peace and security, infrastructure modernisation, eliminate subsistence production, and attract more investment,” he concluded.

Push for reforms and efficiency

Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa appreciated the gains made in automation and transparency but challenged the sector to do more.

“The delivery of public services has greatly improved with automation,” he said. “But we must deepen reforms to achieve more with less. Stop working in silos. The program-based approach in NDP III is a good start toward a whole-of-government implementation model,” he noted.

Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

He urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to reduce barriers to access, especially for the poor, and to fully digitise their services.

“Our people deserve a responsive, inclusive, and efficient public service. Let us build that together,” Mukasa noted.

Bridging the service gap

In his keynote address, Dr Gerald Karyeija, a renowned governance expert, laid bare the structural weaknesses affecting Uganda’s public service.

“Despite some gains, significant disparities persist,” he said. “Hard-to-reach areas like Karamoja and West Nile lag in maternal health and school infrastructure. In some districts, service delivery performance is below 30%.”

He cited inefficiencies such as low budget absorption, chronic underfunding, and fragmented mandates. “Over sh9.4 trillion went unspent between FY 2016/17 and 2020/21. Meanwhile, the number of supplementary budget requests ballooned from 177 to over 1,300 in just five years,” he noted.

Karyeija urged government to tackle resource-use inefficiencies, human-resource gaps, and corruption decisively. “Uganda loses sh2 trillion annually to graft,” he warned. “Frontline staff are under-trained, and many key posts remain vacant,” he said.

To overcome these challenges, he proposed a unified reform strategy anchored in agile governance, digital platforms, performance-linked financing, and participatory budgeting.

Restoring Public Trust

On her part, Grace Mary Mugasa, Minister of State for Public Service, emphasised the importance of inclusive, citizen-centred governance.

“Public service must be agile, inclusive, and forward-looking if we are to overcome historical service delivery gaps,” she said.

She highlighted this year’s key focus areas: digital service delivery, inter-governmental collaboration, innovative models, and community engagement.

“We invite the public to Kololo not only to celebrate but also to engage directly with government services being showcased here today—from passport applications to health checks,” she added.

Stakeholders said the event also served as a public interface for citizens to directly access government services.

From health screenings and land inquiries to passport processing and education counseling, MDAs showcased the practical side of public service.

The week preceding the celebrations included sports competitions, outreach drives, and mentorship programs that brought the government closer to communities. “This is what a people-centred public service looks like,” Minister Mugasa commented.

Moving toward inclusive governance

Reiterating the theme of institutional resilience and inclusive governance, Dr Karyeija proposed regional training hubs and digital monitoring systems to enhance readiness and responsiveness.

“Local governments must be equipped with context-specific solutions and real-time data to meet community needs,” he said.

Muruli Mukasa pledged to integrate performance tracking systems and inter-agency task forces for synchronised implementation. “We will adopt a whole-of-government approach,” he said.

About African Public Service Day

The event is part of a wider continental celebration held annually by African Union member states.

Although the United Nations marks Public Service Day every June 23, Uganda is observing its national festivities today in line with logistical arrangements and extended programming.

The commemorations are rooted in the early Inter-African Public Administration Seminars held in 1970 (Botswana) and 1971 (Sierra Leone), which advocated for strong, competent, and visionary public administration as a cornerstone for Africa’s development.