President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has defended field inspections by Ministers Balaam Barugahara and Justin Nameere, saying their decision to take corruption complaints directly to the public is helping expose problems that have long been hidden by officials.

In a statement released on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU), Museveni dismissed concerns that the inspections amount to blindly “bumping into issues,” arguing that the scale and frequency of corruption require direct action.

“Therefore, the fear that the Barugaharas and Nameeres may Kutomera, may not be based on facts,” President Museveni said.

The President noted that the bigger challenge is ensuring evidence gathered from the field leads to prosecutions, calling for faster action from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“The challenge now is for the DPP to have a dedicated officer that can quickly assess the abundant evidence against these criminals so that they are prosecuted,” he noted.

He blamed corruption partly on officials who cover up wrongdoing and members of the elite who fail to report abuses, saying public meetings have allowed the two ministers to bypass those barriers.

“That is why Barugahara and Nameere, by going to the People directly in the form of Barazas (Public gatherings), have by-passed the blockade of the thieves manned by the responsible elements of the elite,” Museveni stated.

Museveni said corruption can be stopped if government officials refuse to cover up wrongdoing and citizens report it.

“This corruption in Uganda is stoppable,” he added.

He also said the large crowds attending the ministers’ public meetings reminded him of the NRM’s earlier days, when citizens voluntarily turned up for public meetings without being offered food or other incentives.