Deputy IGG challenges West Nile officials to meet wealth declaration deadline
During a meeting with public officials from Arua City Council and Arua Regional Referral Hospital at the city hall on April 15, 2026, Dr Okiria said the officers have until the 30th of this month to comply with the mandatory declaration of income, assets and liabilities in accordance with the Leadership Code Act.
Deputy IGG Dr Patricia Achan Okiria addressing Arua City leaders she was in West Nile to popularise the declaration of income, assets and liabilities among government officials. (Photo by Robert Adiga)
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The Deputy Inspector General of Government has challenged public officers from the West Nile sub-region to expedite wealth declaration as mandated by the Leadership Code Act.
Deputy IGG Dr Patricia Achan Okiria is in West Nile to popularise the declaration of income, assets and liabilities among public officers.
During a meeting with public officials from Arua City Council and Arua Regional Referral Hospital at the city hall on April 15, 2026, Dr Okiria said the officers have until the 30th of this month to comply with the mandatory declaration of income, assets and liabilities in accordance with the Leadership Code Act.
She added that the declaration of income, assets and liabilities is important in promoting transparency and fighting corruption in public service.
The deputy city clerk of Arua, Charles Kabili, speaking during the engagement. (Photo by Robert Adiga)
Under the theme “Enhancing Service Delivery through Declaration,” the IGG’s effort reflects the government’s renewed focus on improving accountability and efficiency in service delivery.
Okiria warned about punitive penalties for failure to declare one’s income, assets and liabilities, including demotion, interdiction, fines, prosecution in courts of law and, at worst, termination of service.
“The month of April the month of declaration of incomes, assets and liabilities by public officers, primitive accumulation of wealth is an offence and accumulation is a proper way is recommendable and what we are doing is within the requirement of the law which requires every public officers and leaders to declare their income, assets and liabilities after every two and five years and non-compliance attract serious penalties on the public servants,” Okiria said.
Meanwhile, Dr Okiria applauded the West Nile sub-region for compliance with the Leadership Code requirement of declaring income, assets and liabilities, noting that no major cases of non-compliance have been registered from the region.
“West Nile has generally been performing well, and we have not received serious cases from West Nile, but in other regions we have had, and the leadership code tribunal has now been encouraged to publish the cases they have handled and the penalties they have issued so that people know that this is a serious issue,” added Dr Okiria
The deputy city clerk of Arua, Charles Kabili, while appreciating the IGG for the initiative, confirmed that all staff have been made aware of the legal requirement and that declaration of income, assets and liabilities is progressing well.
Deputy IGG Dr Patricia Achan Okiria in a group photo with Arua City leaders after the engagement. (Photo by Robert Adiga)
The deputy mayor of Arua city, Millicent Milly Inzikuru, cautioned staff against non-compliance, noting that no civil servant from the city has faced the IGG tribunal over the matter.
The declaration of income, assets and liabilities is a statutory requirement under Uganda’s anti-corruption laws and is considered a cornerstone of good governance.
It is conducted periodically to promote integrity, accountability and transparency among public officials.