President Museveni has named Ms Mariam Wangadya as the second deputy Inspector General of Government.

The appointment of Ms Wangadya, who currently works with the Uganda Human Rights Commission, now fully constitutes the inspectorate, which was barred last year by the Constitutional Court from investigating and prosecuting graft cases because it lacked two substantive deputies.

Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi, in a telephone interview last evening, confirmed Ms Wangadya’s appointment. “Yes its true she has been appointed as the second deputy IGG pending her vetting by Parliament,” said Mr Mirundi.

When contacted, Ms Wangadya said she had not yet been formally informed but was happy to hear the “good news”. “If it is true, I will add value to the office of the Ombudsman since my training as a lawyer is in line with the functions of the IGG,” said Ms Wangadya.

Under the Constitution, the IGG and the two deputies are appointed by the President and approved by Parliament. The Constitution also provides that the officers only serve two terms, each of four years.

Ms Wangadya’s appointment comes months after Mr George Bamugemereire was named deputy IGG. His appointment had followed that of Justice Irene Mulyagonja as the substantive IGG. She replaced Justice Faith Mwondha, who was recently named a judge in the Court of Appeal.

In April 15, 2012 the Constitutional Court ruled that the Inspectorate of Government could not investigate and prosecute corruption cases since it was not fully constituted with a substantive IGG and two deputies.

The ruling followed a successful petition filed by senior ministers, Sam Kutesa, John Nasasira and Mwesigwa Rukutana, who challenged the legality of the composition of the IGG.

The ministers were accused of abuse of office and causing financial loss of Shs14 billion ahead of the 2007 Chogm summit in Kampala. Court has since then cleared the ministers due to lack of incriminating evidence by the prosecution.