Mukwaya renews IGG war

Jun 08, 2004

THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has been interfering with government departments in disregard to his constitutional mandate, justice minister Janat Mukwaya has said.

By Anne Mugisa

THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has been interfering with government departments in disregard to his constitutional mandate, justice minister Janat Mukwaya has said.

During the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) mid-term review workshop at Speke Resort Munyonyo yesterday, Mukwaya said the IGG was not given powers to interfere with government work. She said she did not see the amended Constitution giving the IGG power to interfere with Government work though the Inspectorate would have enough ombudsman powers.

The donors promptly asked Mukwaya not to advocate scrapping the Inspectorate of Government in her White Paper on the constitution review, which she said would be ready in two weeks’ time. The donors said although there were some overlaps in the IGG’s role, the office should be kept to check corruption.

“We hope your White Paper does not curtail the powers of the IGG. We see there are overlaps but they can be worked out amicably,” the Netherlands’ First Secretary here, Francesco Mascini, said.
“Please, retain the office of the IGG in the new constitution because it is good for fighting corruption,” Mascini said.

Mukwaya said tthe Government did not intend to scrap the IGG but would examine and see what is wrong with the office and rectify it.

She said the IGG’s powers needed to be defined so that he exercises them in accordance with the law.
She said sometimes the IGG emphasises the insignificant cases and leaves the big ones.

“The IGG sometimes just chases one bag of posho in a Police training school instead of getting the big fish. Some of the big fish just run off and we run after the small ones,” Mukwaya said.

She said sometimes the IGG interferes with other departments, giving chance to offending officers to deny responsibility.

Mukwaya said the IGG has been investigating and prosecuting cases but leaving them half way, expecting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to take over at the wrong stage.

But the IGG, Jotham Tumwesigye (above), said those who were criticising his work should read the law and understand it. He said in an interview yesterday that Articles 225 and 230 of the Constitution were clear on his powers.

He said Article 225 mandates him to eliminate corruption, enforce the leadership code and investigate any act or omission or recommendation, which may be irregular. He said Article 230 mandates him to investigate, arrest and prosecute any officer for suspected corruption.

Mukwaya said the referendum on the political system was likely to take place in February next year depending on how fast Parliament works on it. She said her White Paper on the Constitution review might not be debated before August because June to August are usually for the budget cycle.

She said Parliament could expedite the process to ensure that the referendum takes place by February next year. She also said the constitutional amendment, which will also bring the elections to the same day, will reduce the current Parliament's term and that of the local governments for a few months so that the elections could be held at the same time.

Mukwaya defended local defence units and the local militias, saying they were set up due to public demand. She said the affected communities were grateful to have the militias to offer security where it was lacking.

Ends

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