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Minister Balaam Directs LC5 Chairpersons, Mayors and Speakers on new government measures

11 August 2026, 8:49 pm

File photo: Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi. He has issued new directives to local leaders across Uganda.

By Regina Lalam

Kampala, Uganda — Local Government Minister Barugahara Ateenyi has written to all LC5 chairpersons, mayors and speakers of councils across Uganda, directing them to immediately begin implementing key government laws aimed at promoting accountability and curbing indiscipline.

In a letter dated 10 August 2026, Minister Ateenyi outlined key guidelines that local leaders and security agencies must enforce.

The guidelines include:

  1. Free and fair accountability — Ensure that all public funds are used transparently and properly accounted for.
  2. Crackdown on local alcohol, “Iguli”, and betting — Take action to reduce the abuse of local brews and gambling among young people.
  3. Media access — Allow journalists free access to information and permit them to attend council and government meetings.
  4. Public display of budgets — All financial budgets and project allocations must be displayed in public places to enable citizens to monitor projects and track how public funds are spent.
  5. Protection of children — Empower security agencies to arrest anyone found selling local alcohol, “Iguli”, to children under the age of 18.
  6. Bar operating hours — Bar owners are prohibited from opening before 3:00 pm. Any bar that fails to comply with the directive must be closed.

The Minister urged all leaders and security agencies to work together to ensure the full implementation of the directives.

“The purpose of these guidelines is to promote transparency, protect our youth, and ensure public resources benefit the people,” the Minister stated in the letter.

Speaking to our reporter by telephone on Tuesday, 11 August, Francis Abola, the LC5 chairperson of Otuke District Local Government, welcomed the directive.

He confirmed that Otuke had already started implementing some of the measures.

“We had already resolved some of these issues. This directive from Minister Balaam will help us enforce them better across the district,” Abola said.