Archival Sense
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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Anne Muhairwe (photo courtesy of TRACE)
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (D/IGG), Anne Muhairwe, has publicly cautioned Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara and his deputy, Justine Nameere, against exceeding their legal mandate in the fight against corruption, warning that some of their actions could expose the government to costly court battles.
Appearing before Parliament's Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Muhairwe said while the Inspectorate of Government welcomes support from all actors in tackling corruption, the campaign must be conducted strictly within the confines of the law.
"We applaud the ministers of Local Government for joining us in the fight against corruption, but they need to be very careful on how they conduct this business," Muhairwe said.
She warned that ministers have no legal powers to interdict public officers, noting that only the legally mandated authorities can effect such actions following recommendations from the Inspectorate.
"We need to be careful how we tread during the anti-corruption fight because we risk unnecessary suits. The ministers don't have powers to interdict... If you are at a rally and publicly order for interdiction, I think it may have some legal implications," she said.
Muhairwe's remarks come amid a series of high-profile anti-corruption operations led by Balaam and Nameere in local governments, where the ministers have publicly ordered investigations and called for the interdiction of suspected officials.
The comments sparked a wider debate among legislators, with some MPs questioning whether the growing role of politicians and other anti-corruption agencies reflects waning public confidence in the Inspectorate of Government.
Mukono North MP Abdullah Kiwanuka asked whether the rise of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and Balaam's interventions suggested the IGG was no longer responding effectively to corruption.
"If you were doing everything on the spot, there would be no reason for such offices to come in," Kiwanuka argued.
Igara West MP Cohen Amanya Kyampene also questioned whether the Local Government minister was effectively taking over the constitutional mandate of the Inspectorate.
"There seems to be a public outcry on service delivery, and we are seeing Balaam taking over your work. As IGG, don't you feel that this is an indictment on you?" Kyampene asked.
Responding, Muhairwe dismissed suggestions that the existence of multiple anti-corruption actors amounted to a vote of no confidence in her office, insisting that corruption requires a collective response.
"Fighting corruption cannot be a one-man effort. Everybody is welcome," she said.
She also defended the Inspectorate's approach, saying many of its investigations are deliberately conducted away from the public eye because of legal requirements.
Muhairwe revealed that she had previously been criticised for publicising the arrest of officials from the Office of the Prime Minister, with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja questioning why the Inspectorate was "acting in the press."
"We cannot act the way the public wants us to act by showing you everything we are doing," she said, maintaining that the Inspectorate continues to investigate and prosecute corruption cases despite public perceptions to the contrary.
