Kampala

Ugandans offered Shs166 billion in bribes last year, according to a new report tracking corruption trends; with the usual suspects - police and politicians – remaining the main source of unscrupulous behaviour.

The report released yesterday by the Inspectorate of Government and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) at Makerere University lists police, district administrations, public officials, schools and town councils as the most complained about government departments, and which perpetuate the trends.

Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) George Bamugemereire speaking at the launch of the report titled “Tracking Corruption Trends in Uganda: Using the Data Tracking Mechanism (DTM)”, said they received 2,798 complaints last year an increase from 2,272 in the previous year.

“The findings are far reaching indication of the extent of corruption and maladministration in public office,” Justice Bamugemereire said. He said the DTM was used to ascertain whether trends are going up or down based on current efforts to fight corruption.

Researchers presenting fourth edition of the DTM highlighted prevention and enforcement as major challenges to eliminating corruption in the country. “The level of public awareness [of how to report corruption] is low. We are aware of our rights but we are not executing them,” Dr Ibrahim Kasirye, a researcher at EPRC, said.

“Six out of 10 Ugandans know how to lodge a complaint against police [but] people don’t know where the IGG is,” he said, adding that police are often perceived not only as leading sources of corruption, but as the only sources to report corruption to.

Absenteeism

The DTM noted incidents of corruption includes absenteeism among teachers and health workers.

The Secretary to Treasury, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, however, said this was “simply incompetence on the part of the teachers and health workers” and they should be sacked. “The common cause of absenteeism I hear a lot is related to the poor pay but the question I keep asking them is if you are paid poorly, why don’t they quit?” he asked.

The report also indicates current challenges faced by the Ombudsman in trying to fight the corruption trends like the limited manpower and the shortage of funds. The Minister of Finance, Ms Maria Kiwanuka, said they would increase funding to the IGG to fight graft.