Report corrupt officials, IGG urges Ugandans

To strengthen the battle against corruption effectively, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) has emphasized the importance of citizen involvement by encouraging the reporting of suspected corruption cases through various platforms.

In 2023, the IG introduced an ombudsman complaint handling manual, allowing citizens to conveniently submit their grievances.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya highlighted the importance of grassroots participation, as the complexity of corruption, particularly involving high-ranking public officials often referred to as the "Big Fish," necessitates collective action from all Ugandans to ensure accountability for these offenders.

She delivered her comments while closing the 2024 Anti-Corruption Convention, at the Four Points Hotel in Kololo, a suburb of Kampala, on December 5, 2024.

Uganda will participate in the global observance of World Anti-Corruption Day on December 9, 2024, which will be held under theme: Promoting Effective Participation of the Youth in War Against Corruption.

The event was co-ordinated by the office of the IG in collaboration with several organisations, including the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), Transparency International Uganda (TIU), the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), and various Civil Society Advocacy Groups, among others.  

The IGG pointed out that community members are vital in providing information about the properties and lifestyles of residents.

From left to Right: Julius Mukunda, CSBAG executive director, Henry Muguzi, Alliance for Finance monitoring ED, Josephat Nuwabeine , Office of the Auditor General AG Director interacts with Edward Akol, Auditor General looks on during the Anti Corruption Convention 2024 meeting at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on December, 05 2024.

She further explained that in cases of "Budgeting for Corruption," high-profile officials typically leave no evidence, placing the entire burden on their juniors.

“So, how do we get evidence to have the big fish. Collaboration is key. These people don’t take their money in the bank but buy assets. The new mansions, hotels, their lifestyles taking their children to expensive schools and having holidays abroad,” she added.

She noted that the statutory institutions responsible for combating corruption are tasked with spearheading the efforts against it.

She emphasized the importance of involving the youth, who represent most of the population, in taking a proactive role in this battle.

“They are the biggest consumers of government services. They are the main victims of poor service delivery,” she added.

She urged all state and non-state entities to involve the public in comprehending their responsibilities and the ways they can assist in the fight against corruption.

“I might not know that this or that officer benefited from a project and constructed a house in the village. It is the neighbour or relative who might know this information. That is why war on corruption should be every one’s war. What we need is information and we start our investigations,” she added.

She said it is unfortunate that individuals within communities often celebrate the corrupt figures present in their areas.

“Someone who gets a job in two years and is very rich, marries the second wife, and they just glorify them. People must get away from glorifying corruption and demonize it,” she added.

Advocates against corruption, including both private and government organizations, point to inadequate monitoring and tracking systems as a key issue that needs to be strengthened to prevent and even make it easy to bring the culprits to justice.

Auditor General Edward Akol noted that corruption in Uganda evolved into a systematic and deeply entrenched problem with devastating impacts on national development.

Losing trillions 

According to the report by the IG, Uganda loses an estimated sh9 trillion each year due to corruption.

He emphasized that addressing this crisis necessitates intentional efforts to establish strong monitoring systems, empowering the youth through education, awareness, and active involvement in governance, as they represent 75% of the population.

Akol highlighted the newly established Citizen Feedback Platform (CFP) as a key initiative to boost youth and public engagement in combating corruption.

He mentioned that AG’s office is also in the advanced stages of setting up a Call Centre with a toll-free line to facilitate feedback.

Akol said PPDA has also put in place a Contract Monitoring System which empowers citizens to monitor government projects and contracts.

The Danish Ambassador to Uganda, Signe Winding Albjerg, highlighted the crucial role of collective efforts in promoting integrity and sustainable development, as well as the significance of engaging youth as key agents of change in the fight against corruption.