The Inspectorate of Government carried out a verification exercise on the alleged non-existent NUSAF III groups in Kiryandongo District. Read the report below:

Religious leaders in Uganda under their umbrella body the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), the Inspectorate of Government (IG), Directorate for Ethics and Integrity (DEI) together with Global Leadership Summit (GLS) have joined efforts to strengthen the fight against corruption in Uganda. This partnership was initiated after a five-day retreat convened at Lake Victoria Serena Resort from the 7th to 11th September 2020 under the theme, “Enhancing Voice and Action on Integrity and Ethical Conduct for Religious Leaders in Uganda”.

The engagement included training sessions on anti-corruption by GLS Uganda together with different Anti-Corruption Agencies that included the IG, Office of the Auditor General, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority, State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Judiciary among others; with support from Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Participants were drawn from the Council of Presidents of the IRCU, their technical advisors (Governance Board), as well as members of the IRCU Secretariat. The Council of Presidents, being the apex body of the IRCU, comprises the highest offices of Leaders from the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Seventh Day Adventist and Islamic religious denominations in Uganda. These leaders play a crucial role in influencing and challenging their following to promote transparency, accountability and integrity.

The knowledge and skills the participants have been equipped with during the retreat will enable them to Champion the Ambassadors for Integrity Campaign, and their influence can make a big difference in the fight against corruption in Uganda.

On the final day of the retreat, a Joint Communique on the concerted efforts to fight corruption in Uganda was signed.

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who represented H.E. President Yoweri Museveni signed as a witness on behalf of the Government of Uganda. The Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo signed on behalf of DEI, Dr. Matte Daniel represented His Eminence the Grand Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje to sign on behalf of IRCU, the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Mr. George Bamugemereire signed on behalf of IG, while Ms. Betty Byanyima signed on behalf GLS.

Several actions points were agreed upon by the IRCU, DEI, IG and GLS and shall guide future actions of the new partnership in the fight against corruption.

Below is the Joint Communique.

The Inspectorate of Government has issued a new public notice due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni presided over the official swearing in ceremony of the new members of the Leadership Code Tribunal at State House Entebbe.

Members of the Leadership Code Tribunal sworn on Friday 24th July are Dr. Roselyn Irene Karugonjo Ssegawa, the Tribunal Chairperson and deputized by Hon. Asuman Kiyingi. Other Tribunal members are Ms. Jane Arume Okellowange, Mr. Didas Bakunzi Mufasha and Ms. Joyce Nalunga Birimumaaso.

The Tribunal was appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judiciary Service Commission and with approval of Parliament.

In 2002, Parliament enacted the Leadership Code Act (2002), which provided detailed enforcement procedures for the Inspectorate of Government in fulfilment of the constitutional objectives of promotion and maintenance of Honesty, Probity, Impartiality and Integrity in Public Affairs and protection of public funds and property.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said that all these efforts by government are aimed at protecting the country and cleaning up public service.

The President said protection of the country is done by three groups including Defence Forces who protect the country against foreign armies, terrorists or armed rebels.

“You can call this stability institutions to deal with war either from outside or inside. There is also unconstitutional ways of causing war e.g. demonstrations, riots etc. and crime, e.g. murders, embezzlements etc,” President Museveni said.

He said that because crime was very broad, government decided to add the office of the IGG to supplement the work of police.

“If the police arrest somebody, they take him or her to the judiciary to judge his case and punish him. That’s why we have problems with LDU who are beating people because they are using traditional justice methods,” he said.

The Leadership Code tribunal the President said comes in the public service mainly to have clean leaders because it is both retroactive and proactive. “This is where you deal with leaders for their past mistakes,” he said.

President Museveni said that the Tribunal deals with other aspects of bad leadership including crime, which could have been committed and hidden.

“It’s also to supplement police and also eliminate and be proactive when it comes to prospective crimes,” he said.

The President assured the Country that this is not a duplication of roles with other Government institutions but rather a supplement for efficiency.

“We already have the police and IGG but we still have a lot of corruption in the public service that is why initiated the Anti-Corruption Unit in State House and now this tribunal,” he said.

The President called upon members of the Leadership Code Tribunal and other Institutions of Government to perfect the fight against corruption so that we help our people.

“Be careful with the people you use to get information. Get credible people,” he said.

The Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity Father Simon Lokodo described this as another milestone and evidence of the President’s zero tolerance to corruption.

Father Lokodo said that the European Union gave them support and resources to operationalize the Leadership Code Tribunal, the first of its kind in Uganda and Eastern Africa.

The Ag. Chief Justice, Owiny Dollo said that the establishment of the Leadership Code Tribunal speaks loud about the President’s conviction that leaders must be accountable.

“The Rule of law for which you went to the bush must prevail in this country. As the Judiciary of Uganda we welcome the tribunal. It will complement the role of judiciary,” he said.

Source: Uganda Media Centre

On 5th July 2020, the term of office of Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza ended after serving as Inspector General of Government (IGG) for two full terms from 2012 to 2020. This is in accordance with Article 223 (7) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

In her last Management meeting held on 3rd July 2020, Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja was happy that she was leaving at the time when the first part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Organisation Development Assessment (ODA) had been completed and part of the structure was in place. She hoped that the staff would appreciate the exercise when concluded, finally noting that the ODA was meant to improve the efficiency of the Inspectorate in line with the Strategic Objectives of the Inspectorate of Government (IG).

She called upon the members of Management to improve on reporting of activities of the IG as periodic reporting both financial and technical was accountability to the members of the public as well as Parliament to whom the IG makes bi-annual reports.

In addition, she noted the importance of developing Standard Operating Procedures for each directorate to guide the expectations of the officers in the implementation of IG activities. She added that there was need to differentiate between policies and procedures and ensure proper documentation.

She concluded by saying that during the ODA, the behavioural competence framework was developed as it was observed that behaviour drives skills and helps achievement of results. She added that learning was continuous and helps growth. “Be willing to learn, accept to be criticised and have a plan to see that change is brought in the way you do your work,” she said.

The members of Management acknowledged the contribution Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza made to the Inspectorate of Government in the 8 years. The Director for Anti-Corruption, Mr Polly Muhairwe, moved a vote of thanks and presented a token on behalf of Management.

The IGG sent out a farewell message to the IG staff.

Uganda joined other African countries to commemorate the African Anti-Corruption Day under the theme, "Fighting Corruption through Effective and Efficient Judicial Systems".

Read the Inspectorate of Government's supplement below:

The Anti-Corruption Court convicted Mr. Nuuhu Kazibwe, a nursing assistant at Bufunda Health Centre III in Ibanda Municipal Council for theft of Government drugs. Mr. Kazibwe was arrested and charged by the Inspectorate of Government (IG). Below is a detailed press statement:

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) is mandated by law to report to Parliament twice a year. Follow the link for the 41st IG Report to Parliament covering the activities of the Inspectorate for the period January to June 2019.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) warns all public officials to desist from any form of corruption and taking advantage of the lock-down in the country. Should you witness any corruption tendencies, please report to us so that we can take our mandated action. Here is how you can get in touch with us during the lockdown:

The District Chairperson of Kalangala District, Mr Lugoloobi Willy has called upon the Inspectorate of Government to advocate for review of living wage of government officials. He said the failure to achieve this causes high levels of corruption.

He made this appeal during the training of District leaders from Kalangala on the new modules of the IG Online Declaration System (IG-ODS). He called upon the members to avoid being corrupt and to focus on service delivery noting that some forms of corruption are dangerous leading to loss of lives.

He thanked the IG team for the training and for creating the awareness and called on the leaders to avoid being a subject of investigations.

The Chairperson of Sembabule, Dr Elly Muhumuza on the other hand thanked the IG Team for inculcating values and morals in the leaders to make them accountable as it ensured a better society.

The Director Leadership Code, Ms Annet Twine, informed the members that the IG was continuously improving the electronic declaration system to ensure that the system is easy and convenient for the leaders and it enables the IG to efficiently manage the process of verification.

About the New Modules:

The IG developed the “Self-registration” module where New Leaders will register into the system by providing all their details. The Leader will then be registered in the IG-ODS upon confirmation by the Accounting Officer.

In addition, the IG developed a “Self-invitation” module for leaders to be able to send themselves an invitation to declare and make the biannual declaration to the IGG.

To address the leaders who have ceased the position of leaderships, the IG also developed an “Exit declaration module” to enable leaders who are exiting the position of leadership to inform the IG that they are no longer leaders and they need to be deactivated from the system. The module allows the leader to make the final declaration as required by the law before exiting. It also allows a leader to easily reactivate their credentials when they resume leadership positions.

The trainings have been conducted in the districts of Soroti, Bukedea, Budaka, Bulambuli, Kalangala, Sembabule, Kagadi and Kakumiro.

The IG invites leaders to use the service request tool to seek clarity of the new modules as well as provide information on the new leaders.