KAMPALA, Uganda — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Ben Kumumanya has directed Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Town Clerks to submit monthly reports on corruption cases involving Parish Chiefs, Town Agents and other public servants implicated in malpractices related to the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Beginning August 2026, local government accounting and administrative heads will be required to report cases handled and provide updates on the status of disciplinary and court proceedings.
The directive is contained in a July 13, 2026 circular, referenced HRM/77/147/01, in which Kumumanya instructed local government authorities to urgently institute disciplinary action against officials implicated in alleged extortion, bribery and abuse of PDM funds and other government resources.
Kumumanya notes that some officials implicated in the reported criminal activities have already been arrested and charged in courts of law.
However, for the Permanent Secretary, arrest cannot mark the end of accountability.
He has directed CAOs and Town Clerks to ensure that disciplinary proceedings are initiated against implicated officers and that those found culpable are removed from public service in accordance with the law.
Monthly Accountability
The new reporting requirement creates a formal mechanism for tracking corruption cases at the local-government level.
CAOs and Town Clerks will be expected to indicate what action has been taken, which cases remain pending and the progress of disciplinary or court proceedings.
The reports are intended to enable the Ministry of Local Government to intervene and “expedite action” where necessary.
The directive has also been circulated to Resident District Commissioners, Resident City Commissioners, district and city leaders, mayors and service commissions, extending the accountability chain beyond officials directly involved in PDM implementation.
Protecting PDM Beneficiaries
For PDM beneficiaries, the stakes are significant.
The Parish Development Model was designed to support poor households in transitioning from subsistence activities into the money economy. Alleged demands for illegal payments therefore risk undermining a programme intended to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable citizens.
Kumumanya’s directive sends a clear message to local government leaders: corruption cases must not disappear into administrative files. They must be tracked, reported and acted upon.
The first monthly reports expected from August will provide an important test of whether the directive can turn warnings against PDM-related corruption into measurable accountability and action.
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