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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lino Anguzu, has applauded the head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke and his team for their outstanding efforts in the fight against corruption.
This was during the courtesy visit Isoke paid to Anguzu at the Office of DPP (ODPP) in Kampala on Wednesday (March 18).
During the closed-door meeting, the two heads discussed ways to strengthen their joint efforts in the fight against corruption, according to a statement the ODPP posted on the social media platform X.
The statement said the DPP emphasised the need to refine existing working mechanisms to maximise results, noting that greater emphasis will be placed on teamwork and improved coordination between the two agencies.
In his remarks, Isoke congratulated Anguzu on his recent appointment by President Yoweri Museveni.
The SHACU head also commended him for maintaining systems that have enabled continued cooperation between the two agencies.
He also lauded ODPP staff for their commitment to sustaining positive working relations and further briefed the DPP on the operational systems and dynamics of his unit in delivering its mandate.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy DPP James Odumbi Owere, Chief State Attorneys Jonathan Muwaganya and Eddie Muhumuza, and the deputy head of SHACU, Israel Ochwo, among others.
Sh9.7trillion lost annually
The Inspectorate of Government’s latest report shows that Uganda loses about sh9.7 trillion annually in corruption, mainly through non-declaration and under-declaration of taxes, employees getting paid yet they do not work, inflated payrolls, and botched procurement processes, among others.
And according to the latest Police crime report, a total of 13,132 cases of economic and corruption crimes were reported in 2024 compared to 12,924 cases in 2023, giving a 1.6% increase in this crime category.
Obtaining (money) by false pretence registered the highest number of cases in this crime category in 2023 (10,449 cases), followed by forgery and uttering documents with 894 cases and counterfeiting with 209 cases.
By the end of 2024, out of the total cases of economic and corruption crimes reported to the police, 3,494 cases were taken to court, 3,494 cases were not proceeded with, while 6,856 cases were still under inquiry.
Out of the total cases taken to court, 1,016 cases secured convictions, 64 cases were acquitted, 416 cases were dismissed, while 1,998 cases were still pending in court.