Speaker Oboth rejects calls to halt Balaam’s anti-corruption crackdown

KAMPALA - Speaker of Parliament Jacob Markson Oboth has told local leaders found guilty of corruption to carry their burden.

The West Budama Central County Member of Parliament (MP) gave the admonition on Tuesday, September 29, while interacting with a delegation from the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) led by Andrew Moses Awany.

The speaker's guests in his boardroom also included Herbert Edmund Ariko, the chairperson of the House Committee on Public Service and Local Government; Betty Nambooze, the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (Local Government); Eng. Ian Kyeyune, the Wakiso LC V chairperson; Kaliro LC V chairperson Elijah Dhikusooka Kagoda; Richard Okuku; and Tororo LC V chairperson John Okea.  

Oboth's comments followed a plea by Kamuli District LC V Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala (NRM), who said that several unnamed teachers in the district had deserted their duties for fear of crossing paths with Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara during his anti-corruption crackdown.

MP Betty Nambooze, the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (Local Government). (Credit: Maria Wamala)

"This has affected several schools and especially candidate classes. How we wish this program of inspecting schools could be done maybe in the first term of an academic year. These students, the finalists, are actually making final touches to write their exams and the teachers are on the run. The innocent students preparing for final examinations are stranded, staring at classroom blackboards.” Dhizaala explained.

Speaker responds

However, in response, Oboth rejected the district leader’s appeal, saying that stopping Barugahaara's crackdown would do more harm than good.

“I can feel you, but if you ask for my honest opinion as Oboth, I would say let the operation go on. Students who will pass will pass. But this thing about corruption cannot continue. Let’s disrupt the status quo,” he disagreed

Instead, Oboth said, those responsible for wrongdoing should face the consequences of their actions.

“He (Barugahaara) was in Tororo; you don’t know how many phone calls I received. But I am like, I am the Speaker, and we are in for the fight against corruption; if you are innocent, you will be proved innocent,” he said.

“The truth is that in the fight against corruption, you chairpersons should distinguish yourselves. The little money these people give you to cover them, they are the ones who blackmail you,” Oboth cautioned.

The speaker's guests in his boardroom also included Herbert Edmund Ariko, the chairperson of the House Committee on Public Service and Local Government. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

Lack of supervision

Interjecting, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke (NUP) reported that many public schools lack supervision of school management committees.

“Unfortunately, in some districts, you find that a whole cartel of people are conniving. Because if you were supervising these people through those committees, then Balaam would not find any work to do. It’s the same thing with health centres and hospitals,” Nambooze opined.

Nambooze also concurred with Kamuli LC V Chairperson Kalooli Dhizaala on the timing of the anti-corruption drive.

However, notwithstanding, Speaker Oboth maintained his stance.

“The inspection should continue. Children should tell their parents, please stop the stealing. We should stop glorifying people who give big offertories in church, and you don’t ask them where they get the money,” Oboth reiterated.   

Oboth said, those responsible for wrongdoing should face the consequences of their actions. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

School management

The 2008 Education (Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary) Act provides for the mandatory establishment of a school management committee or board of governors in each primary and secondary school.  

According to the Education (Management Committee) Regulations, a school management committee must consist of six members, including the teacher as the Secretary of the Committee.  Comprising of the chairperson, who is nominated by the foundation body, one local government representative nominated by the district council and one representative of the local council executive committee.

Additionally, it consists of one person elected by the sub-county or municipal/city division, one representative of parents of the school elected at the annual general meeting (AGM), one representative of the staff (both non-teaching and teaching) elected by the staff at a staff meeting and one representative of old boys’ or girls’ (former students) elected at a meeting of the association of former students.