Cabinet Expected to Approve Tough New Anti-Corruption Recovery Unit as Auditor General Flags Escalating Leakages

By The Urban Gazette Political Desk

Kampala, Uganda

Sources within the Ministry of Finance say Cabinet is expected to approve a new Anti-Corruption Recovery & Asset Tracing Unit (ARATU) in the coming weeks, following a series of internal audits that flagged a rise in unaccounted public expenditure across local governments.

The new unit, if approved, would merge existing anti-corruption functions under a single flagship body with powers to freeze assets, demand emergency audits, and coordinate rapid investigations with the IGG, Police, and the Auditor General.

Senior officials argue that leakages are increasing due to “fragmented enforcement,” especially in infrastructure and district-level procurement.

If confirmed, ARATU would become one of the most powerful oversight units since the creation of the IGG’s Leadership Code Tribunal — signaling renewed political appetite to curb public-sector abuse ahead of the 2026 elections.

Why It Matters:

Signals a political push to reassure development partners as big-ticket financing returns.

Could reshape local government politics and procurement networks.

May boost public confidence in service delivery programs like PDM and infrastructure rollout.

What to Watch:

Whether Parliament demands amendments before approval.

Tensions between ARATU and existing anti-corruption bodies.

Possible high-profile arrests or asset freezes used to demonstrate impact.