By Aggrey Baba
While appearing on a TV political talk show, former Aruu County MP, lawyer and veteran activist Odonga Otto cricized Hon. Balaam Barugahara’s anti-corruption fight, saying that although it has created fear among public servants, it will not solve the corruption crisis of Uganda because it is targeting the small players while leaving the real thieves untouched.
Otto said on Thursiday, that the current approach resembles a cobweb that only traps small insects while allowing bigger ones to pass through, arguing that Uganda’s biggest corruption scandals are not found at the level of village officials and district engineers but among powerful people and institutions controlling billions of taxpayers’ money.
He said while local civil servants are now worried about surprise visits from the, now super minister, many big officials (like ministers) involved in questionable government transactions remain beyond the reach of such operations since they seem to be above Balaam’s level.
“There are thieves in this government who have the right of way, but you go for the engineer in the village,” Otto said.
According to the veteran politician from Northern Uganda, the corruption fight must go beyond public confrontations and camera moments to address major deals and decisions that have cost the country big sums of money.
He mentioned the Lubowa International Specialized Hospital project as a case study, where he questioned the investment of about UGX 1.4 trillion, wondering whether the country has received value which matches the money committed.
Otto also questioned government spending on the Presidential Banana Initiative in Mbarara, saying the people of Uganda expected to see the impact of billions allocated to improve banana production rather than continued explanations about the project.
He further raised questions over the disappearance of several government properties abroad, particularly in London, where he said the country inherited numerous properties which were acquired during Idi Amin’s presidency, but now has only two remaining.
The former MP wondered who authorized the sale of those assets and why such transactions have not attracted the same level of public scrutiny as the corruption cases currently being pursued by Balaam live on social media.
The sale of Uganda Dairy Corporation, Bank of Uganda properties and other government assets were among the other things Otto cited, arguing that these matters represent the kind of corruption that causes Uganda much greater losses, and that unless such are touched, Balaam’s effort may yield nothing productive.
However, despite his criticism, Otto was careful not to dismiss the no-nonsense minister’s efforts, said the minister’s approach has achievedHeadline:
Odonga Otto Says Balaam Is Chasing ‘Chicken Thieves’ While Big Corrupt Actors Escape, Coins ‘Balaam Effect’
By Mulengera Reporters
While appearing on a television political talk show on Wednesday night, former Aruu County MP, lawyer and veteran activist Odonga Otto launched a strong critique of Minister Balaam Barugahara’s anti-corruption campaign, arguing that although it has created fear among public servants, it will not solve Uganda’s corruption crisis because it is targeting the small players while leaving the powerful untouched.
Otto said the current approach resembles a cobweb that only traps small insects while allowing bigger ones to pass through, arguing that Uganda’s biggest corruption scandals are not found at the level of village officials and district engineers but among powerful people and institutions controlling billions of taxpayers’ money.
He said while lower-level civil servants are now worried about surprise visits from Balaam, many senior officials involved in questionable government transactions remain beyond the reach of such operations.
“There are thieves in this government who have the right of way, but you go for the engineer in the village,” Otto said.
According to the veteran politician, Uganda’s corruption fight must go beyond public confrontations and camera moments to address major deals and decisions that have cost the country enormous sums of money.
He pointed to the Lubowa International Specialized Hospital project, where he questioned the investment of about Shs1.4 trillion, wondering whether the country has received value commensurate with the money committed.
Otto also questioned government spending on the Presidential Banana Initiative, saying Ugandans expected to see the impact of billions allocated to improve banana production rather than continued explanations about the project.
He further raised questions over the disappearance of several government properties abroad, particularly in London, where he said Uganda inherited numerous properties but now has only a few remaining.
The former MP wondered who authorised the sale of those assets and why such transactions have not attracted the same level of public scrutiny as the corruption cases currently being pursued by Balaam.
He also cited the sale of Uganda Dairy Corporation, Bank of Uganda properties and other government assets, arguing that these matters represent the kind of corruption that causes the country much greater losses.
However, despite his criticism, Otto was careful not to dismiss Balaam’s effortsn saying the no-nonsense minister’s approach has achieved something important by creating fear among government workers who now believe they could be exposed at any time.
In fact, Otto revealed that he recently suggested that the Oxford English Dictionary should consider introducing a new term called ‘the Balaam Effect’ because of the panic the minister’s actions have generated across the public service.
He explained that many civil servants are now discussing Balaam’s possible arrival at their workplaces, a sign that the Bunyoro-born-minister has succeeded in forcing government workers to pay more attention to accountability.
Otto said no one should attack a person who is fighting theft, even if the current focus is on smaller thieves who are now in Balaam’s reach.
“Hon. Balaam is doing a very good thing, but he is chasing chicken thieves,” he said.
The activist argued that the challenge now is for the fight to move beyond village thieves and begin confronting corruption at the national level where he believes the real corruption stems from.
Balaam’s operations continue to generate debate, with those in love with what he’s doing praising him for bringing urgency to the fight against the cancer eating up the country, while critics like Otto insist that lasting change will only come when the campaign reaches the real thieves. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
