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Individuals reporting government officials' excesses to the Inspectorate of Government (IG) have been advised not to put their life in danger by boasting in public.

IG director education, research and advocacy Gerald Gwoira says despite having the whistle-blowers Act in place, individuals who boast in public about cases they have filed against government officials, put their lives in danger.

Speaking on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, during a Baraza organised by IG in Buswale sub-county, Namayingo district, Gwoira expressed concern that people,  particularly those who drink alcohol start boasting in public by naming government officials involved in fraud whom they have filed complaints about.

Fight against corruption

Officials from Kampala and the Jinja-based regional IG office were in Buswale to sensitise duty-bears and non-state actors on corruption and its adverse effects on service delivery.

“The fight against corruption is something which you can not leave only to the inspectorate of government,” Gwoira said, saying collective action is needed to combat the problem right from the grassroot.

Stakeholders including religious leaders, politicians,  technical staff, opinion leaders raised issues of graft in road construction, health, contracts, education and the district service commission among others.

Brenda Nekesa, the Buswale parish councillor, commended IG for having come to 'open their eyes and to change their perception' in handling some of the things they have been taking for granted.

Stanslous Ojambo, a retired civil servant, called for the decentralisation of the Anti-Corruption Court to regional level saying the one in Kololo in Kampala was over congested, leading to backlog of cases, which in a way facilitates corruption by giving chance to those implicated in to get ways of bribing  their way out and being exonerated.

Busoga region inspection officer Godfrey Okech encouraged the residents to fight for money generated from their taxes. He, however, asked them to always gather evidence before they report cases and treat the corrupt like chicken thieves.

Monica Mutesi, the IG regional complaints officer, said it is important for the public to demand for accountability, attending the launch and commissioning of government projects and working closely with the inspectorate of government to fight corruption.

Buswale chairperson Richard Oweri said his council had learnt the processes of fighting corruption through supervision.