EXPOSED!! Officials Accused of Hiding Behind Gen. Salim Saleh’s Name to Evade Accountability in Karamoja

In what appears to be a growing trend of impunity, corrupt officials from the Ministry of Water and the Ministry of Agriculture are reportedly using the name of Rt. Army General and Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, Gen. Salim Saleh, as a shield to dodge public scrutiny and silence demands for accountability regarding government-funded projects in Karamoja.

Investigations and testimonies from local anti-corruption monitors reveal a disturbing pattern: rather than responding transparently to legitimate questions about project implementation, several government officials allegedly resort to invoking Gen. Saleh’s name to intimidate and deflect.

According to the anti-corruption monitoring team operating in Karamoja, the name of Gen. Saleh is frequently wielded like a weapon, creating an atmosphere of fear and discouraging community members from questioning the quality, timelines, or budgetary allocations of public projects.

One such monitor, Raymond Okidi, who has been closely following projects in Abim District, shared their frustrations:

“As a local community, we would like to be allowed to sign MOUs and be shown the BOQs of any project coming to our area. But instead, the officials supposed to implement these projects become arrogant and intimidate us, using Gen. Saleh’s name,” he said.

Okidi further noted that efforts to obtain clarity from Ministry of Water officials have been fruitless. He claimed that when questions arise about accountability, the officials simply brush them off, saying they should “contact Gen. Salim Saleh.”

The situation is reportedly no better in Moroto, where locals are also feeling betrayed by government operatives. In one glaring example, community members raised concerns about the Shs 12 billion water dam project in Nakonyen, which has apparently stalled without clear explanation. But instead of being met with transparency, they were reportedly dismissed.

“Instead of explaining to us why the project is failing, they told us to get the answers from Gen. Salim Saleh, saying he is their boss,” said Timothy Lokut, a community member who had demanded clarity from Ministry of Agriculture officials.

These allegations have triggered calls for higher-level intervention. The anti-corruption monitors are now urging Gen. Muhoozi, the Chief of Defence Forces, to extend his anti-corruption crackdown to the Karamoja sub-region, where a disturbing number of development projects are failing or showing signs of mismanagement.

“It’s not that the government doesn’t send money to Karamoja. A lot of funds are allocated here, but these thieves in the Ministries of Water and Agriculture divert the money to fund their personal projects,” said Loru, another vocal member of the monitoring team.

The testimonies paint a grim picture: communities eager for development are being denied transparency, while those who dare to speak up are met with threats and references to one of Uganda’s most respected military figures—possibly without his knowledge or consent.

The growing misuse of Gen. Saleh’s name not only undermines public trust but also risks dragging his reputation into the mud if left unchecked. As Karamoja continues to lag behind in terms of infrastructure and basic services, locals are demanding more than vague answers and intimidation—they want justice, transparency, and genuine development.