President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus to intensify efforts against corruption in the health sector and the Parish Development Model (PDM), including theft of medicines, absenteeism by health workers and diversion of government funds.
President Museveni issued the directive on August 7 while meeting the NRM Parliamentary Caucus at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, where he said MPs must take a more active role in monitoring government programmes.
He said the directive was informed by issues raised by wananchi during his recent campaign activities across the country.
“Corruption in the health sector and the Parish Development Model must be decisively tackled,” President Museveni said in a post on X.
He listed theft of medicines, absenteeism by health workers, diversion of PDM funds and the sale of government jobs among practices that must be stopped.
President Museveni challenged MPs to speak out against corruption without fear and closely monitor government programmes to ensure that public resources translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
He also praised State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara and Minister of State for Gender, Culture and Community Development Justine Nameere for what he described as their efforts to expose corruption at grassroots level.
The ministers have carried out surprise inspections in several districts, with some of the operations reportedly resulting in arrests over alleged mismanagement of public resources.
President Museveni cited interventions in districts including Isingiro and Masaka as examples of the kind of direct monitoring he wants MPs to emulate.
The President said the NRM legislators should adopt a similar approach by going beyond parliamentary debates and regularly checking how government programmes are being implemented in their constituencies.
The directive comes as the government continues to push the PDM as a major intervention for moving households into the money economy, while concerns over corruption, beneficiary selection and misuse of funds have persisted.
The PDM provides financial support to organised households through parish-level structures, with government expecting beneficiaries to invest in income-generating activities.
In the health sector, medicine theft and absenteeism have also remained recurring concerns, with the government periodically ordering investigations and disciplinary action against officials accused of undermining service delivery.
President Museveni said MPs have a responsibility to ensure that such problems are confronted at the point where they affect ordinary citizens.
He urged the caucus to emulate the ministers’ willingness to conduct field inspections and take action against officials accused of misusing public resources.
The meeting was part of President Museveni’s engagements with the NRM Parliamentary Caucus following his recent campaign activities, during which he has repeatedly emphasised accountability, service delivery and effective implementation of government programmes.
