Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda has warned newly appointed managers of Presidential Industrial Hubs against corruption, fraud and financial mismanagement, saying government will not tolerate abuse of public resources.
Speaking while officiating at the opening of an induction training for newly appointed finance and demonstration farm managers at Oliver Tambo Training School in Kaweweta, Babalanda said the officials have been entrusted with a critical role in advancing government’s wealth creation agenda.
She said finance and farm managers are custodians of public resources and public trust and must therefore execute their duties with integrity, professionalism, transparency and accountability.
“The Office of the President expects nothing less than excellence from each one of them,” Babalanda said.
The minister cautioned that corruption and financial mismanagement undermine service delivery, erode public confidence and frustrate government’s socio-economic transformation agenda under Uganda Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
Quoting President Yoweri Museveni, Babalanda reiterated the “no sleeping and no corruption” directive, stressing that every shilling allocated to the industrial hubs must deliver value to Ugandans.
She also hailed Museveni for establishing Presidential Industrial Hubs across the country, describing them as a transformative initiative that has equipped thousands of young people with practical vocational skills, created employment opportunities and promoted self-reliance.
According to Babalanda, the hubs have also enabled Ugandans who did not access formal education to acquire certified skills and improve their competitiveness in the labour market.
She urged the newly appointed managers to use the induction training to familiarize themselves with systems, procedures and values guiding their work, noting that effective leadership and sound financial management would be key to the success of the programme.
The managers will oversee financial operations and demonstration farms across various Presidential Industrial Hubs as government intensifies efforts to tackle unemployment and accelerate wealth creation.
