Minister Balaam Exposes Shs73 Million ‘Pit Latrine Without a Pit’ Scandal

State Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has raised fresh concerns over alleged wasteful public spending after claiming that a government-funded pit latrine costing taxpayers Shs73 million was constructed without an actual pit.

The minister made the allegations while sharing photographs of the structure on social media, describing the project as another example of corruption and poor accountability in local governments.

Barugahara questioned how millions of shillings in public funds could be spent on what he termed an incomplete and unusable facility, saying such projects continue to deny Ugandans quality public services.

“To some brothers of mine who are not bothered by what is going on in our local governments and cities, this is a ‘pit latrine’ without a pit that cost taxpayers UGX73 million. Is this the Uganda we want? This is unacceptable,” he posted.

The minister said the alleged project underscores the importance of his #ExposeTheCorrupt campaign, which he launched to highlight suspected cases of corruption and misuse of public resources.

Responding to critics of the campaign, Barugahara insisted that it would continue until public officials entrusted with taxpayers’ money are held accountable.

“My brother Simon and others on X, this is exactly why the #ExposeTheCorrupt campaign must continue. No one will stop this train. There are still a few hours and days left for repentance,” he wrote.

He warned that public servants involved in embezzlement or inflating government projects should expect to be publicly named, arguing that transparency is essential in safeguarding public funds.

“When you steal public funds, you will be exposed publicly. If you hate humiliation, don’t tamper with or misuse public resources. Every shilling belongs to the people and must be used for its intended purpose,” he said.

According to Barugahara, exposing corruption is critical to improving public infrastructure, strengthening service delivery and restoring confidence in local government institutions.

He also commended several security and government agencies that have supported investigations carried out under the anti-corruption campaign. Among those he acknowledged were the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Criminal Investigations Directorate officers, District Internal Security Officers in Mbale and Bulambuli, Resident District Commissioners, District Police Commanders, Members of Parliament and other officials.

The minister appealed to intelligence agencies, security officers, Resident District Commissioners and members of the public across the country to actively report suspected cases of corruption, saying the fight against graft requires collective action.

“I also appeal to all staff in the Office of the President, ISO, Crime Intelligence officers, RDCs, and every patriotic Ugandan to join and support the #ExposeTheCorrupt movement. Together, let us protect taxpayers’ money, improve public infrastructure, and deliver the quality services our people deserve,” he said.

While Barugahara alleged that the project consumed Shs73 million in public funds, he did not identify the district, government department or contractors responsible for its construction. The claims have not yet been independently verified, and no official response had been issued by the agencies linked to the project by the time of publication.

The allegations add to growing scrutiny over the implementation of government-funded projects, as anti-corruption agencies continue to investigate claims of inflated contracts, ghost works and misuse of public resources in local governments across Uganda.