Uganda Commemorates African Anti-Corruption Day 2023
July 12, 2023
The Inspectorate of Government (IG) on July 11, 2023 commemorated the African Anti-Corruption Day (AACD).
The Day was commemorated under the theme: “Strategies and Mechanisms to reduce the cost of corruption in Uganda”.
However, the theme for the whole of Africa was: “African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, 20 years after: Achievements and Prospects”. Call to action; How can we accelerate the fight against corruption in the next decade?”
The AACD is commemorated on 11th July every year.
The IG in 2021, initiated the study on the cost of corruption in Uganda with support from the GIZ, to generate empirical data on the cost of corruption in Uganda.
According to the report, Uganda loses close to UGX 10 Trillion every year in both direct (overt) and indirect (covert) corruption per year, which translates to 23% of the annual government budget.
The Africa Union estimates that $140 billion is lost through corruption annually. This is equivalent to the GDP of all but 43 out of 48 countries in Africa.
To put this in another perspective, this amount can ensure uninterrupted power 24 hours a day to every citizen in Africa for 3 years.
As part of activities to commemorate ACCD, IG carried out a number of activities including holding a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre to share the steps being taken to eliminate corruption.
The other activities included Radio and TV talk shows and newspaper supplement.
African Anti-Corruption Day SupplementWhile addressing Journalists, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe noted that IG currently uses a number of interventions including investigations, arrests and prosecution, leadership code, asset recovery, spot-checks and international collaborations among others to fight corruption.
However, she revealed that the IG seeks to involve the citizens in the war against corruption since they are the main victims.
“IG has purposed to co-opt all Ugandans in the war to combat corruption by enhancing public awareness about the cost and pain of corruption to stimulate the wanainchi to despise, detest and reject it. The IG is thus mobilizing citizens to unmask corruption and take appropriate action,” the IGG said.
Under this approach, the Inspectorate will recruit all citizens at all levels to be ambassadors of anti-corruption. They will be trained to identify all forms of corruption and expose it other than being bystanders because they are victims of corruption.
“This approach will also focus on prevention through advocacy, education and community mobilisation. This approach is intended to incite the population against public officers whose action of corruption are manifested through lifestyle not commensurate with their known income, “she said.
Through sensitisation, citizens should be able to relate their personal experience due to inadequate service delivery directly linked to corruption.
About ACCD
The African Union (AU) adopted the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) in Maputo, Mozambique on 11th July 2003.
The Convention came into force on 5th August 2006. To date the convention has been ratified by 48 Member States of the African Union.
Uganda signed and ratified the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and has since joined the rest of Africa to commemorate the day every 11th of July.