Deputy IGG reminds public officers to declare income, assets and liabilities

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The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, has asked all government civil servants and political leaders to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the Inspectorate of Government (IG) through the IG online declaration system (IG-ODS).

The IG conducts a mandatory declaration of income, assets and liabilities by public officers every two years. The next exercise is scheduled to take place in April 2026.

During the declaration period, a public officer must disclose all sources of income, including salary, allowances, rental income, business earnings, farming income and income from other side jobs.

Under assets, an officer is required to declare all property and valuables, including land, houses, vehicles, company shares, livestock and cash at hand above sh5m. Under liabilities, officers must disclose all debts and financial obligations such as bank loans, mortgages, SACCO loans and other outstanding debts.

Achan made the remarks on Monday (March 16) during a public officers’ declaration sensitisation campaign for Gulu, Omoro and Nwoya districts held at the chief administrative officer (CAO) boardroom.

She said the declaration exercise, according to Schedule 2 of the Leadership Code Act, targets public officers occupying or acting in positions in the public service who work in a civil capacity, excluding the military, and whose emoluments are paid from the consolidated fund or from monies provided by Parliament.

She said district ICT officers have been trained across all districts to serve as focal point persons tasked with helping public officers declare their income, assets and liabilities through the IG online declaration system.

Christopher Oketayot, chief administrative officer Gulu (standing) speaking during the IG public officers’ declaration sensitization campaign in Gulu.

Achan said the declaration process is intended to promote transparency and accountability, prevent and detect corruption, curb illicit enrichment and conflicts of interest, and strengthen public trust in the civil service.

She warned that public servants who refuse to declare their assets risk penalties, including a fine, caution or demotion.

The Leadership Code Act Cap 33, she said, requires leaders to declare their assets and liabilities every two years in the month of March. Section 5 of the Act requires public officers to submit their declaration of income, assets and liabilities to the Inspector General of Government every five years in the month of April.

Christopher Oketayot, the Gulu chief administrative officer, said the district has 155 public officers and that 81 percent have already declared their assets, with the health department yet to complete the process.

However, Mac Baker Ochola, the ICT officer and focal point person for Gulu city, requested the IGG to establish a desk to handle asset declarations so that public officers can complete the process within the required timeframe.

He said the system has challenges and that it is difficult for users to consult the IG on how to complete declarations, yet the exercise is time-bound.

James Ojwang, the acting principal administrator at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, asked the IG to hold a meeting with hospital staff to encourage them to embrace the initiative.

He said many lower-level staff at the hospital believe the declaration requirement only applies to senior management and are therefore reluctant to declare their assets.

Paska Nyeko, the chief finance officer of Gulu district, said declaring property can be difficult, especially in cases where land is communally owned or where owners do not possess land titles.