
IG Proposes Establishment Of Sectoral Ombuds In Public Offices
Nov. 11, 2024
This was revealed by the Inspector General of
Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, during the commemoration of the
Ombuds Day 2024, which was held on November 6 2024 at Mestil Hotel, Kampala.
A sectoral Ombudsman is an independent body
that helps to promote accountability and transparency in specific public
offices.
They can address complaints, provide
referrals, improve internal responses, generate trust and prevent future cases
among others.
The IGG is the national Ombudsman of Uganda
and handles all Ombudsman-related complaints under Article 225 (1) (a) of the
Constitution.
Hon. Kamya argued that once sectoral ombuds
are created and established within public institutions to handle complaints, it
will ease the IG’s work. However, consultations will first be made among the
relevant stakeholders before implementation.
The IGG noted that if public officers and
citizens adhere to the rule of law, there would be efficient delivery of public
services in Uganda, adding that public officers hold public offices in trust of
the people.
“Public officers must respect the public and
must serve them diligently and without delay. The Inspectorate of Government is
raising awareness to the entire population of Uganda to demand for quality
services as a constitutional right. We call upon the public to say no to poor
quality service and report to the IGG when they have not been treated
properly,” the IGG said.
Sectoral Ombuds bodies act as a control
mechanism, limiting administrative access and ensuring fairness in power
exercise. They serve as a check against abuse, accessible, without fear,
favour, or cost to all citizens.
The Public Protector of the Republic of South
Africa, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, who delivered a keynote address on The
effectiveness of the sectoral Ombuds in bridging the gap between citizens and
public services, emphasized the importance of having sectoral ombudsmen
in the public offices.
“Accessible Ombudsmen can prevent
dissatisfaction with state conduct, provide legitimate grievance resolution
process and enhance public sector governance by fostering trust,
accountability, addressing service delivery gaps and supporting innovation,” Advocate Kholeka said.
She had been invited to share her experience
as a Public Protector and show how the Republic of South Africa has successfully
implemented the sectoral ombuds.
Head of Public Service and Secretary to
Cabinet, Ms. Lucy Nakyobe, said that the Ombudsman function, if executed with
Integrity, is one tool that can eliminate corruption.
“When the Sectoral Ombuds is introduced, it
will inculcate a culture of values that respect the citizens that we serve. IGG
should extend this function to dismantling corruption and
maladministration by ensuring that public officers stick to the rule of
law while executing their duties,” she said.
The first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for East African Community Affairs who was also the Chief Guest, Rt. Hon.
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, commended the Inspectorate of Government for
initiating the establishment of sectoral ombuds in public offices.
She noted that most people suffer injustice
due to lack of systems in public offices.
“Some countries have established sectoral ombuds in almost every
sector and it is working quite well. It is good that we are also now copying
that good example which will ultimately be good for our country,” she said
Examples of Ombudsman complaints include among
others nonpayment of benefits such as salary, pension and gratuity, employment
disputes such as irregular recruitment, interdiction, unfair termination or
victimization, abuse of authority, mismanagement and delay in service delivery.
However, the IGG doesn’t handle a complaint
which has already been decided by a Court or a tribunal established by law, a
case which is before a court by the time the complaint is filed, and a
complaint of private nature for instance a loan recovery.