The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has arrested six of the seven senior officials of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) over abuse of office.

The OPM officials were arrested at the IG Head Office on the orders of the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe on June 14, 2023.

These include Mr. Deogratious Masigazi, Undersecretary/Head of Department, Pacification and Development Programme, Mr. Joshua Abaho, Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS), Ms. Barbara Asasira, Principal Assistant Secretary, and Mr. Tonny Ament Emmy, Assistant Commissioner in charge of programmes.

Others are Mr. Peter Amodoi, Programme Officer and Mr. Samuel Ofungi, Senior Assistant Secretary.

The Accounting officer, Mr. Geoffrey Sseremba did not appear at the IG head office when summoned, hence he could not be arrested. However, he is on the same charge sheet with the other six suspects.

The six OPM officials were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo for prosecution.

The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Ms. Anne Twinomugisha Muhirwe has rallied the youth to join the war to eliminate corruption.

Ms. Muhairwe made a clarion call during the Students’ Anti-Corruption Conference held at Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara City on June 8, 2023. She asked students to be people of high integrity and report corruption.

“You are the leaders of tomorrow and that’s why we are calling upon you to join us in the fight against corruption. You must educate yourselves about the causes and consequences of corruption. Be aware of the government agencies fighting corruption and be inquisitive. Report corruption and do not be a bystander,” Deputy IGG said.

The one-day conference which was held under the theme: “Youth owning the war to eliminate Corruption” attracted students from both secondary schools and higher institutions of learning from the Ankole Sub-region.

It was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the youth in demanding accountability and exposing corruption.

The Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, Rt. Rev. Dr. Sheldon Mwesigwa urged students to uphold values, saying that having values will enable them to fight corruption.

“Respect for values is critical, not love for money. If you love money so much you end up losing integrity. Choose what you want to be. Going to the best schools is nothing if you don’t have values.

The Director of Research, Education and Advocacy in the Inspectorate of Government, Mr. James Penywii revealed that the Students’ Anti-Corruption Conferences will be rolled out across other regions in the country so as to recruit more youths in the fight against corruption.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe has launched investigations into alleged mismanagement of medicines by the National Medical Stores (NMS).

The investigation follows a public outcry of lack of medicines in public health centres across the country.

The IGG, who was accompanied by a team from the Directorate of Special Investigations (DSI) made an impromptu visit to NMS’ new offices in Kajjansi on June 2, where she met the Chief Human Resource Officer, who was the only member of management in office at that time.

NMS is a Uganda government-owned organisation that is mandated to procure, store and distribute essential medicines and medical supplies to all public health facilities in the country.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) met with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and other Implementing Partners (IPs) at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on May 31, 2023 to discuss the progress of many sub-projects under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).

The meeting was initiated by IG to get feedback from IPs on the challenges they are facing while implementing the sub-projects, causes for delays, and offer solutions that can lead to the successful implementation of the sub-projects.

OPM has the overall responsibility of implementing and accounting for project funds and coordinating activities under all project components, while IG is involved in ensuring the successful implementation of DRDIP in line with its mandate to ensure transparency, accountability, effective service delivery and value for money.

Deputy Inspector General of Government Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria noted that DRDIP has made an immense contribution to the socioeconomic transformation agenda in the refugee hosting communities, adding that a lot of successes have been registered.

“I have personally inspected the projects and seen the value addition made to our people. I have seen improvement in the education, health, environment and livelihood programmes. I commend all the stakeholders for this. To a great extent, we are achieving the project objectives,” she said.

However, Dr. Okiria noted that there are few glitches which are likely to downgrade the successes of the project and lead to loss of billions of shillings if they are unattended to.

“These are matters concerning delayed sub-projects, incomplete and un-commenced projects,” she explained.

She asked the IPs to step up their efforts and ensure that no project remains incomplete by December, 2023.

DRDIP is a $20 million project funded by the World Bank, which seeks to address expanded development needs by the refugee hosting districts in the country.

The project addresses the unmet social, economic and environmental needs identified in the local host communities.

It is currently being implemented in the districts of Arua, Terego, Koboko, Madi-Okollo, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani and Obongi in West Nile sub-region; Lamwo in Acholi sub-region; Kiryandongo, Hoima and Kikuube in Bunyoro sub-region and Isingiro, Kamwenge and Kyegegwa in South West sub-region.

The Inspector General of Government, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, has challenged staff of the Inspectorate of Government (IG) in their respective capacities to go the extra mile if they are to deliver on their targets.

Doing things in a normal manner, the IGG said, produces average results.

The IGG noted that average results are not challenging while targets must be challenging and require one to stretch him or herself in order to achieve set targets.

She was speaking to staff from the Directorate of Special Investigations (DSI) that were undergoing training on Performance Management and Appraisal at Uganda Management Institute (UMI) in Kampala.

“We need to go an extra mile to deliver on our targets. Targets are above average and we cannot achieve the target with an average mentality. Working averagely not only affects our career growth but also the institution that we work for. That's why we need to work hard and produce better results,” she cautioned.

The IGG further challenged staff to stand out as an individual to fight corruption within the IG. She stated that if a staff member reports a corruption deal within the institution which leads to saving of public resources and apprehending another staff member(s) for corruption, he or she will receive 5% of the saved money as per the Whistleblower's Protection Act, 2010.

The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe has ordered the arrest of the Ntungamo District Water Officer, Mr. Dismas Tumusangye over diversion of public resources, abuse of office and corruption.

Mr. Tumusangye allegedly diverted a water tank meant for the community of Rwebirere village in Ngoma Sub County in Rushenyi Constituency to the home of a businessman, Mr. Benon Bihungu.

Mrs. Muhairwe was shocked to find the water tank at Mr. Bihungu's home during the inspection. Residents told the Deputy IGG that the businessman does not allow them to fetch water from 'his' tank.

The Deputy IGG was accompanied by the Director Anti-Corruption Mr. Simon Ogwal Kajura, Manager Ombudsman Affairs, Mr. Justus Kareebi, Head Mbarara Regional Office, Mr. Siraje Sempagala among others.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has signed a memorandum of understanding and nine Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in 15 Districts to implement the community response to enhance transparency and accountability under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).

Officiating at the signing ceremony, Deputy IGG Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria reminded the CSOs of their obligation to Government by supporting service delivery. This, she noted was an important collaboration in the fight against corruption.

She urged them to step up efforts in the fight against corruption during implementation of Government projects and also ensure that there is value for money.

Dr. Okiria was accompanied by the Director Project Risk Monitoring and Control, Ms. Annet Twine, Director Legal Affairs, Ms. Sarah Birungi Kalibbala and the Manager Strategic Partnerships and Public Relations, Hajjat Munira Ali.

Inspectorate of Government (IG) Staff from the Directorate of Ombudsman Affairs (DOA) and the Directorate of Anti-Corruption (DAC) underwent training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala from May 18th-19th.

The two-day training, which was officially opened by Deputy IGG, Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, was aimed at enhancing the skills of staff in ADR while executing their duties.

It was facilitated by experts from Praxis Conflict Centre (PCC), a dispute resolution firm offering mediation, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution training and related services in Uganda.

Former Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, who is also the founder of PCC gave the keynote address. Other facilitators were Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Ms. Christine-Nsubuga Birabwa and Mr. Julius Ojok.

The Deputy IGG Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe has warned the Soroti District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr. Aggrey Muramira, against disobeying lawful orders given to him by the Inspectorate of Government (IG).

She made the remarks while paying a courtesy call on the CAO ahead of the meeting between the IG team and district stakeholders.

The Deputy IGG was surprised to learn that while the IG Soroti Regional Office had severally ordered the CAO to among others reign in the indiscipline of the technical staff and restore sanity, Mr. Muramira is yet to take action.

"You (CAO) should know that the office of the IGG shouldn't be taken for granted. I'm surprised that you don't know this. How can we write to you and you ignore our directives?" She asked.

She warned that she would take appropriate action against the CAO.

Her reaction was triggered by the CAO's failure to halt payment for staff who had absconded from duty without explanation for many days, despite several reminders from the head of IG Soroti Regional Office, Mr. Rashid Ssentongo.

Mr Ssentongo also revealed that the CAO is rarely in office, something he said affects service delivery.

"I have personally brought it to his attention (CAO) following complaints from both the public and technical staff but he never replies our letters," Ssentongo said.

The Director of Anti-Corruption Mr. Simon Kajura asked the CAO to respect IG directives, adding that failure to do so will attract punitive measures.

Though the CAO cited political interference as one of the factors stifling service delivery in the district, the Deputy IGG asked him to draw a line between the technical wing and political wing, and remain transparent as the district accounting officer. She pledged IG's support in fighting corruption at the district.

She also lauded Mr. Ssentongo and the IG Soroti team for being bold while investigating cases of corruption in the region.

"The feedback is so far so good. Atleast I have not heard cases where Mr Ssentongo and his team are accused of soliciting for a bribe."

The Soroti District LCV Chairperson, Mr. Simon Peter Edoru, said that whereas IG was doing a good job in the region, the officers should avoid taking sides while carrying out their investigations. However, Mr. Ssentongo denied the allegation.

The Deputy IGG advised the IG team to always be objective and courteous while carrying out investigations.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe has started visiting Regional Offices of the Inspectorate of Government (IG) in a bid to assess their performance.

During her visit, the IGG will be interacting with staff about IG activities in their respective regions, and also district political and technical leaders in the jurisdiction of such regional offices.

She will also be holding barazas in some areas to get feedback from the citizens on how they are affected by corruption and also implore them to join the war against corruption since they are the immediate victims.

One of IG’s strategies this year is to encourage the citizens to own the war against corruption and work hand-in-hand with the Inspectorate to mitigate the vice.

The Inspectorate has 16 Regional Offices across the country. These include; Arua, Fort-portal, Gulu, Hoima, Jinja, Kabale, Kampala, Lira, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mukono, Soroti and Tororo.

During the baraza engagement that was held in Wobulenzi, Luweero district which is under Mukono Regional Office, citizens decried corruption among the government workers and asked the IGG to take stringent action against the corrupt officials.

They among others reported the alleged sale of jobs by the Luweero District Service Commission, sale of drugs in government health facilities and shoddy work on public schools and roads.

The IGG promised the citizens that her office would thoroughly investigate the allegations and prosecute those who will be found culpable.

She also promised to go back to the same place after three months to share findings of her investigations with them.