Uganda hosts Africa anti-corruption agencies

CORRUPTION

WAKISO- Uganda is set to host delegates from the Commonwealth countries in Africa for the 9th Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies.

The five-day meeting opens on May 6 at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort in Kigo under the theme: Time to Act: Prevent Corruption for Sustainable Development.

The conference will be an opportunity to share experiences on fighting fraud, the inspector general of government, Irene Mulyagonja told journalists at a media briefing on Thursday.

"The conference will provide a unique platform for sharing emerging best practices and country innovations in the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance," she said.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to open the conference which brings together heads of state and government, officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat, heads of anti-corruption bodies, the private sector, civil society and policy experts.

The previous conference was held in Abuja, Nigeria last year. Botswana was the first African country to host the conference and is home to the Anti-corruption Centre established in 2013.

Mulyagonja said the inspectorate has also intensified its campaign against corruption and sharply increased the number of leaders whose declarations are verified every year, from 65 to 300.

"We are stepping up our recovery of stolen funds through the Asset Recovery Unit which was established in 2017," she said.

She appealed to the public to regularly share reports of indiscretions by public officials, in light of the complex and secretive nature of corruption.