The Inspectorate of Government (IG) joined the rest of the world on December 9 2022 to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD).

The commemoration took place in Ibanda district under the theme: ““Citizen’s must own the war to eliminate corruption – it is their war”.

Ibanda District was selected to host the event because during an evaluation exercise conducted by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ibanda was ranked the top district in quality of service delivery.

The event was organized by all Government Anti-Corruption agencies which include the Inspectorate of Government (IG), Office of the Auditor General, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).

Others are; the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate for Ethics and Integrity, Financial Intelligence Authority and Ibanda district as the host.

In a speech read for him by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Norbert Mao, President Museveni said he is receiving increasing reports that political leaders are embroiled in corrupt practices, contradicting a bush-time commitment in the NRM’s 10-point programme.

“How can we hope to convince anyone of the righteousness of our cause if our own people are violating our own stated goals, thereby undermining our political economic and social programmes?” the President asked.

The President further noted that the remedy in fighting corruption is the Leadership Code, which will be able to pin public officials on the accumulated wealth.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, said the IG’s new strategy is to take the war against corruption to the people hence the reason why the commemoration was held out of Kampala.

“We plan to mobilize Ugandans to be watchdogs and recognize corruption through unexplained acquisition of wealth by public officers, to take interest in annual budgets of their local governments, to take interest in releases of funds from the Ministry of Finance for specified activity to their local government, ensure that the said activities are delivered, ensure value for money deliveries, but most importantly to report any suspicious activity to the IG or any of the Anti-Corruption Agencies as the case may require,” the IGG said.

She also noted that the President launched the Lifestyle Audit Campaign through which the Inspectorate shall be requiring public officers who seem to have amassed wealth that is not commensurate with their known sources of income to explain their source of investment capital.

“After the launch, we embarked on the task to constructing a legal framework in which to operate the Lifestyle Audit. It will be ready in a few months and then we will roll it out. The Lifestyle Audit Campaign will depend very much on the people giving us information about who owns what, how they got it and generally giving us evidence – through the Whistleblower Programme,” she said.

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The International Anti-Corruption Day provides an opportunity for governments, the private sector, Civil Society Organisations, the media and citizens to reflect on the effects of corruption and commit to collective action on preventing and addressing the pandemic.

Leaders from Katakwi, Kapelebyong and Soroti district local governments have pledged to work with staff from the Inspectorate of Government (IG) by giving them access to information that will help enable them identify corruption tendencies.

They made the pledge during boardroom sessions which were held at their respective headquarters on November 30 2022 and early December on 1st and 7th respectively.

The objectives of the boardroom sessions were to discuss corruption issues and seek for action plans and commitment from the leadership of the districts on how to combat corruption tendencies, and solicit for cooperation and strengthen the working relations between the two parties.

IG staff from Soroti Regional Office had earlier decried challenges of access to information while carrying out investigations in the named districts.

Some of the challenges cited by the IG staff include lack of cooperation by the district leadership and technical staff, habitual absenteeism and rampant cases relating to management of human resource of the stated districts, as well as mismanagement of the government assets and public funds.

The IG staff further highlighted areas where corruption tendencies were rampant including fraudulent procurements especially of project funds, ghost staff payroll and forgery of academic documents, civil servants’ engagement in partisan politics, and interference of the politicians in the work of the technical staff and the District Service Commissions.

The leadership of the three districts including Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) agreed to work with the IG to tighten the noose on corruption tendencies in their respective areas and ensure better service delivery.

The CAOs committed to among others improve management of the government assets, strengthening controls on managing public funds, doing due diligence to avoid fraudulent procurements, and partnering with IG to collectively fight corruption.

They asked the IG to always hold such sessions with them because they are proactive and preventive methods of fighting corruption.

The Leadership Code Act (as amended) specifies Leaders who are required by law to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the IGG every two years.

Below is an update on the non-compliance of Leaders who are required by law to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the IGG in 2021 and those who applied to access contents of declarations:

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has arrested and charged two senior officials of Uganda Technical College (UTC) Kichwamba over abuse of office.

These include the Principal UTC Kichwamba Mr. Silver Mukwasiibwe, 58, and the Deputy Principal Mr. Joseph Nyakojo, 56.

The other official who was charged but not arrested is Mrs. Grace Tibanagwa, 58, UTC Kichwamba's Accountant / Bursar.

National Resistance Movement (NRM) councillors from Rubaga Division paid a courtesy call on the Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe on Friday, 11 November.

The meeting took place in the Inspectorate of Government's (IG) boardroom.

Mr Patrick Lwanyaga, who led the councillor's delegation said that they were happy to meet Hon. Kamya in her capacity as the new IGG.

The two parties discussed a number of issues including transparency in service delivery and also the need to fight graft among public officials.

Mr Lwanyaga expressed failure by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to implement the increment of the councillors' salaries by 15%.

While serving as Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon. Kamya increased salaries of political leaders in Kampala including the Lord Mayor, Division Mayors and councillors. However, the councillors told her that they are yet to receive the increment.

The councillors also asked the IGG to help them ensure that there's equal distribution of resources and transparent leadership to mitigate corruption.

The IGG promised to follow up the matter with the relevant authorities.

However, she told the councillors that the Constitution bars her from getting involved in partisan politics.

"One of the mandates of the Inspectorate is to foster strict adherence to the rule of law and enhancing transparency and accountability in government projects," she said.

She challenged the councillors to champion the fight against corruption in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Buganda Road Court has cleared the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Airlines, Mr. Cornwell Muleya of charges of disobeying lawful orders of the Inspector General of Government (IGG).

Mr. Muleya, a Zambian national was arrested in June 2022 on orders of the Deputy IGG, Dr. Patricia Okiria Achan for failure to give evidence and produce documents regarding the mismanagement of public funds, procurements and recruitment of staff at Uganda Airlines, contrary to Section 35(a) of the Inspectorate of Government Act, 2002.

However, presiding Grade One Magistrate, HW Asuman Muhumuza, acquitted Mr. Muleya, on grounds that his failure to comply with IGG orders to appear over corruption allegations was not in total defiance, but justified by well-reasoned travel and sickness.

The Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda H.E Signe Winding Albjerg has paid a courtesy call on the Inspectorate of Government (IG) and commended it for its effort in the fight against corruption.

H.E Albjerg, who was flanked by her deputy H.E Henrik Jespersen also pledged Denmark’s support to the IG.

“The embassy of Denmark is pleased by the work of the Inspectorate of Government and would like to congratulate you for taking the lead in the fight against corruption. We are very hopeful that our partnership with you will significantly improve your output and we hope that you will expedite the implementation of the current programmes where we are involved,” the Ambassador said.

It was her first visit to the Inspectorate since her appointment as an Ambassador to Uganda. Over the years, the Kingdom of Denmark through DANIDA has been providing invaluable support to the IG.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe acknowledged Denmark’s continued support and said that the IG was looking forward to sharing and benefiting from the Ambassador’s wide experience.

The IGG informed Ambassador Albjerg that of the total budget provided by the Government of Uganda to the Inspectorate, about 75% caters for salaries, wages and other statutory obligations and operating costs, while only about 25% is available for the work of fighting corruption.

“The financial support that we get from development partners is therefore very useful in supporting our work. The financial support from Denmark contributes a significant percentage of total donor funding,” the IGG said.

The IGG also told the Ambassador that the Inspectorate has changed the strategy to fight against corruption by taking the war out of the air-conditioned boardrooms, five-star hotels, business class air ticket and smart European cities to the grass root people of Uganda whom she says pay taxes but suffer a deficit of social services due to corruption.

Hon. Kamya further revealed to the Ambassador that the Inspectorate intends to engage the grass roots through the three arms of society that are effective in grass root mobilisation including the political, religious and cultural structure since they are respected and trusted by their followers.

“So, while we shall continue to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption, we intend to invest our energies in educating and sensitising grass root Ugandans about the evils of corruption to society growth and transformation until they relate it directly to their unenviable quality of life,” the IGG said.

The Inspector General of Government, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe presented the Inspectorate of Government's Bi-Annual Performance Reports to Parliament (Jan-Jun 2021 and Jul-Dec 2021) to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among.

Follow the links below to read the reports:

The First Lady, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has asked corrupt officials and citizens to repent and change their way of life since their deeds continue to frustrate service delivery and hurt many innocent Ugandans.

Hon. Janet Museveni, who is also the National Champion of the Ambassadors for Integrity Campaign, urged the corrupt to “turn away from erroneous ways.”

She added in a speech read by Vice President H.E Jessica Alupo at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Friday: “Corruption is a hindrance to achieving aspirations of the National Development Plan III and Vision 2040.”

The prayers organised by the Inspectorate of Government in collaboration with Inter-Religious Council of Uganda were held under the theme, “Putting God at the centre of the war against corruption.”

The Guest Preacher was the Archbishop of the Uganda Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jerenomos Muzeyi.

The First Lady said Uganda loses trillions of shillings yearly to mismanagement of resources, theft, fraud, neglect of duty, and miscarriage of justice.

A survey commissioned by the Inspectorate of Government in 2021 revealed that Uganda could be losing up to UGX20 trillion annually to corruption.

The survey indicated that about UGX10 trillion is swindled directly through undeclared taxes and utility user fees, corruption in procurement of government goods and services, inflation of the public payroll, ghost workers on public service payroll, shoddy works, sale of government property such as fuel, drugs, mismanagement of all government resources.

The First Lady asked religious and cultural leaders as well as families to join the government and other non-state actors in combating corruption.

“Corruption is primarily perpetuated and sustained through people at individual and institution levels, the government cannot fight the battle alone,” she noted.

Representing the First Lady, H.E. Jessica Alupo on the same occasion launched the Anti-Corruption Campaign 2022/23 under the theme, "Citizens Owning the War to Eliminate Corruption".

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa described fighting corruption as a challenge.

“Corruption fights back. You touch someone who has stolen UGX10billion, he will use UGX50m to fight you. This is a challenge that we must address,” Rt. Hon. Tayebwa said.

He also demanded that recommendations of all Auditor General’s reports on corruption be implemented.

The Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Akello Rose Lilly said leaders should be role models who can cultivate a culture of integrity and guide citizens to operate within the boundaries of morality and integrity.

The Inspector General of Government, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe said everyone should cry out to God to protect the UGX48 trillion passed in this year’s national budget and also participate in the fight against corruption.

Hon. Kamya said the government would continue rewarding whistleblowers who expose corruption as stated in the Whistleblowers’ Act.

“Parliament passed this Act to encourage people to report such cases. If a whistleblower helps in the recovery of Shs1 for example, he or she is entitled to five percent of that money,” she explained.

The IGG also announced that national interdenominational prayers against corruption would be held on the last Friday of every month of July.

The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Ngoga, said fighting corruption is a process that should be constant, requires multiple approaches and a clear chain of accountability so that it doesn’t break.

“If the chain breaks anywhere, then accountability does not happen,” Rt. Hon. Ngoga said.

DM

African Anti-Corruption Day was designated by the African Union on 11th July in recognition of the vast progress in the war against corruption on the African continent and the need to reflect on the approaches to end the vice.

Led by the Inspectorate of Government, this year’s commemorations were attended by representatives from several African countries.

The Inspector General of Government Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, said African countries receive $133b annually in the fight against corruption in form of grants, loans and donations, but an estimated $140b is lost through corruption every year.

She added that the war against corruption should be taken to the masses because they are the victims of corruption.

Bishop Joshua Lwere, who represented the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among, said inciting the local population to stand against corruption is the best option. He advised that the existing structures need to be empowered to fight against the vice.

This year marks the sixth edition of the African Anti-Corruption Day which is being commemorated under the theme: “Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of the COVID – 19 Funds”.

In line with the theme for the African Union, Uganda, is commemorating the day under the theme: Escalating the War on Corruption in Africa: Focus on COVID-19 funds.