New law to empower public to access wealth of their leaders

KAMPALA - Government has tabled in parliament a bill that will empower members of the public to access the wealth of their elected leaders or government officials if passed into law. 

According to the Leadership Code (Amendment), 2020 tabled in Parliament by Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, a person who believes or has reasons that the officer's declaration does not reflect the actual wealth is free to provide the information to the Inspectorate of Government. 

To get this information, an individual will have to make a written application to the Inspectorate of Government detailing the property or liability the applicant reasonably believes were not included on the list. 

The Leadership Code Act provides for minimum standard of behaviour and conduct for leaders and requires leaders to routinely declare their income, assets and liabilities as one of the ways to prevent those with access to the public purse from fraudulently enriching themselves. 

In case the IGG declines to provide the information, the Bill empowers the applicant to appeal to the Tribunal for redress. 

Under the previous law, the IGG would not divulge the declarations of leaders. The law requires all appointed and elected leaders to declare their wealth three months after assuming office and then after every five years. 

The Bill states that a public officer who is found not to have declared certain assets, income and liabilities or if the declaration is found to be false, the leader shall be taken to have breached this Code and undeclared property confiscated or forfeited to the government. 

The Bill further states that public officers and leaders who do not declare within the required time of three months after the appointment or election into office commits a breach and is liable to a fine not exceeding sh400, 000 for the initial three months of non-submission of declaration, after which the officer will be fined sh800, 000 per month for two months and after two months, will have his or her emoluments withheld. 

"In addition to the remedies, the officer shall be liable to a warning, demotion, dismissal or asked to vacate office," the Bill states. 

Lokodo said the Bill is intended to amend the Leadership Code Act of 2002 to clarify what constitutes interest in property by a leader; to require all public officers to declare their income, assets, liabilities and to extend the jurisdiction of the Leadership Code Tribunal to complaints made by any person aggrieved by the decision of the IGG.