Basalirwa Warns of Hollow Anti-Corruption Laws Without Exemplary Leadership

Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa has warned that Uganda’s fight against corruption will remain futile unless its leaders begin to lead by personal example.

Speaking on NBS Television on Thursday, June 5, the opposition legislator criticised the government’s overreliance on laws and institutional frameworks while ignoring what he called the “first and most important approach”—ethical conduct at the top.

“Countries with basic anti-corruption laws have lower indexes of corruption,” Basalirwa said, but quickly added: “The first and most important approach to the fight against corruption is through exemplary leadership.”

His remarks come at a time of heightened public frustration over high-profile corruption cases, the latest being the arrest and remand of Baker Mugaino, a government official charged with abuse of office and corruption.

The case, still under investigation, has reignited debate about whether President Museveni’s administration is serious about curbing graft or merely responding to scandals under public pressure.

Basalirwa, a lawyer and long-time anti-corruption advocate, argued that legislation without moral leadership will always fall short.

“Our approach to the fight against corruption is wrong,” he said. “Our approach, which is through legislation and institutional framework, can only be secondary.”

He drew attention to the impunity enjoyed by high-ranking officials accused of corruption, saying this has crippled public confidence in the system.

“The moment the ‘Big Fish’ are involved in corruption and are untouchable, then the fight against corruption is lost,” he told NBS viewers.

In Uganda, corruption is often cited as one of the major barriers to service delivery and economic development.

Reports from the Auditor General and the Inspectorate of Government have repeatedly highlighted mismanagement of public funds in health, education, and infrastructure sectors.

Yet, prosecutions remain selective, and senior government officials are rarely convicted.

Basalirwa’s criticism echoes long-standing concerns raised by civil society organisations and development partners, who have frequently called for both legal reforms and political will at the highest level.

The Uganda chapter of Transparency International has also argued that laws alone will not work without accountability for senior officials and proper enforcement mechanisms.

The timing of Basalirwa’s comments is politically significant. President Museveni is expected to deliver a national address later today, with many Ugandans hoping it will include bold new steps to combat entrenched corruption in government agencies.

Some analysts expect the president to reaffirm support for the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspectorate of Government, though past pledges have often yielded little change on the ground.

Basalirwa challenged fellow lawmakers to confront the issue honestly.

“It is not enough to pass anti-corruption laws while senior officials remain above scrutiny,” he said. “Parliament must not be complicit in sanitising impunity.”

He urged Ugandans to push for both stronger legal mechanisms and a cultural shift in leadership ethics. “The people must demand integrity, not just institutions,” he said.

Basalirwa, who also chairs the Justice Forum (JEEMA), has consistently pushed for transparency, rule of law, and reform of Uganda’s public institutions.

His Thursday remarks are likely to increase pressure on the ruling party ahead of the President’s address, especially as more cases of alleged misuse of public funds continue to surface.

It remains to be seen whether the government will respond with tangible action or continue to rely on public relations and piecemeal prosecutions.

But for Basalirwa, the message is clear: laws are important, but leadership is everything.