Uganda’s Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has been named the ‘Unstoppable Best Performing Minister of the Year 2026’ at the prestigious Unstoppable African Awards.
Organized by the African Agenda Forum (TAAF), the continental ceremony took place on October 31, 2026, at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The award celebrates Barugahara’s rapid impact on public service, grassroots transformation, and local governance since his appointment.
Barugahara emerged as the second runner-up in the highly competitive pan-African category following a rigorous public voting process. The organizers noted that his strategic focus on strengthening local government structures and scaling up service delivery has caught attention far beyond Uganda’s borders.
Reacting to the continental milestone, Barugahara bypassed personal glory, opting instead to dedicate the award to God, his political mentors, and the Ugandan public.
Citing John 3:30 (“He must increase, but I must decrease”), the minister emphasized that true leadership requires deep humility and selflessness.
He paid special tribute to his chairman and mentor, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for his unwavering belief and guidance, alongside President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for granting him the platform to serve the country.
He credited the entire Ministry of Local Government staff, district leaders, and grassroots workers for making the achievement a collective victory.
Rather than entering a mood of relaxation, Barugahara used the global spotlight to declare an aggressive, renewed anti-corruption drive across Uganda’s local government sectors.
He warned that every single shilling allocated to villages, parishes, sub-counties, and districts must be strictly protected from graft. By sealing leakages and demanding absolute accountability from public servants, Barugahara intends to ensure that national resources translate directly into tangible developments—like better roads, functional healthcare centers, and clean water. According to the minister, this international recognition is not a reason to wind down, but a command to work even harder to clean up public administration and deliver the standard of service ordinary Ugandans deserve.
