IGG Meets Constitution Team

By Kezio D. Musoke THE Inspector General of Government (IGG), Jotham Tumwesigye, has proposed that a person dismissed or removed from office for corruption be disqualified from holding any appointive or elective public office for 10 years. “A person who has been convicted of a corruption offence should be disqualified from standing for any parliamentary office for a period of 10 year,” Tumwesigye said. He proposed these amendments to the constitution while appearing before the Constitutional Review Commission yesterday at Nile Hotel. He also complained that anti-corruption agencies like the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Auditor General (AG) usually frustrate his constitutional role because the law is not clear. He presented a 28-paged memorandum to the commission. The Chairman, Prof. Fredrick Ssempweba, said they would study the proposals. Vice Chairman Dr. Joseph Byamugisha, Commissioners Prof. Ssemakula Kiwanuka, Benedicto Mutyaba also attended. Tumwesigye proposed that the office of the IGG be given special constitutional powers to prosecutes cases of corruption and abuse of office effectively without any restrictions from the DPP. According to the law, the IGG has to seek the consent of the DPP, to discontinue criminal proceedings. IGG’s office also has to seek DPP’s consent, to prosecute. Ends