Uganda’s Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has called on his supporters and the public to vote for him after being nominated for the 2026 Unstoppable African Awards.
Balaam is competing in the Unstoppable Cabinet Minister of the Year category, which recognises government ministers whose leadership, administrative reforms and development initiatives have delivered significant results.
One of the other nominees publicly identified in the category is Barbara Rwodzi, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Rwodzi’s nomination was reported by Zimbabwean media on September 30, 2026, placing her among ministers competing for the continental accolade.
The awards have attracted nominees from different African countries, with the category focusing on ministers whose policies and leadership are considered to have contributed to national development.
Balaam is seeking public support as voting enters its final days. According to his campaign poster, voting opened on September 21 and closes on October 5, 2026.
The minister has drawn attention for his campaign against corruption in Uganda, which has seen hundreds of civil servants arrested or interdicted to pave the way for investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of office cases.
The campaign is intended to strengthen accountability in public service and ensure that public resources are used for their intended purposes.
President Yoweri Museveni, who appointed Balaam to the Cabinet, has on several occasions commended him for his work and urged fellow National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislators and ministers to emulate his approach.
The President’s commendation has added to Balaam’s public profile as he seeks recognition at the continental level.
Supporters can vote for the Ugandan minister through the official awards website: [https://unstoppableafricanawards.com/#vote/the-unstoppable-cabinet-minister-of-the-year](https://unstoppableafricanawards.com/#vote/the-unstoppable-cabinet-minister-of-the-year).
Voting closes on October 5, ahead of the inaugural Unstoppable African Awards ceremony scheduled for October 31 in Nairobi, Kenya.
