Katakwi, Uganda: Residents of Katakwi District, the home area of Vice President, H.E. Rtd Maj Jessica Alupo, have raised alarm over widespread corruption and poor service delivery, blaming civil servants for the misuse of public funds meant to improve education, health services and road infrastructure.
The concerns were raised during an open baraza organised by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) at Katakwi District headquarters on Tuesday, where community members voiced frustrations over stalled government programmes and weak accountability among public officials.
Several residents told officials from the Inspectorate of Government that corruption and poor coordination between leaders and citizens have significantly undermined development efforts in the district.
Mary Amangoro, a resident who attended the meeting, questioned the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying confusion around the disbursement of funds has left many beneficiaries uncertain about whether they will receive support.
“We’re surprised that along the way the Parish Development Model has been disrupted in the community because people are worried whether they will actually get the money,” Amangoro said.
She explained that beneficiaries were initially instructed to open accounts with Opportunity Bank, only to later be directed to switch to WENDI, a change that has reportedly delayed the release of funds.
Another resident, Patrick Okiror from Getom Sub County, accused some law enforcement officers of demanding money in exchange for police bonds.
According to Okiror, residents are being forced to pay between Shs150,000 and Shs200,000 to secure police bonds, depending on where an arrest occurs.
“We pay between Shs150,000 and Shs200,000 for a police bond depending on the arrest location. Most people cannot afford such an amount to get justice,” he said.
Jessica Alungat, a resident of Ajeluk Cell in Katakwi Town Council, also highlighted challenges in accessing clean water and recurring floods affecting households in the area.
She urged the Inspectorate of Government to intensify community sensitisation efforts down to the village level to help citizens understand how to report corruption and hold leaders accountable.
Residents also noted that poor coordination between community members and district leaders has further worsened service delivery challenges.
IGG intensifies anti-corruption outreach
Joseph Blessing Muramuzi, an officer from the Inspectorate of Government who facilitated the meeting, outlined four key pillars guiding the fight against corruption: promoting public awareness of constitutional values, policy advocacy, civic education and strengthening oversight mechanisms.
Muramuzi said Uganda’s overall progress in combating corruption remains relatively low, noting that national anti-corruption efforts currently stand at about 25 percent.
He cited provisions in Articles 225 and 230 of the Constitution, which empower the Inspectorate of Government to investigate corruption, arrest suspects and recover misappropriated public funds.
Stephen Ouma, the regional head of the Inspectorate of Government, revealed that the Soroti regional office is currently handling a backlog of about 200 corruption-related cases, including bribery and abuse of office.
Ouma urged citizens to play a central role in fighting corruption by reporting wrongdoing through official channels. “The citizens are the primary victims of corruption, and they must take an active role in reporting cases to the responsible authorities,” he said.
Whistleblower complaints
Christine Lamwaka, Manager for Advocacy and Capacity Building at the Inspectorate of Government, said the baraza was organised following numerous complaints from whistleblowers about corruption and poor service delivery in the region.
“Issues raised include service delivery gaps, maladministration, contractor incompetence and corruption in job placements,” Lamwaka said.
She noted that the Inspectorate has been holding similar public engagement meetings across the Eastern Region to strengthen anti-corruption awareness from the grassroots.
Despite persistent challenges, Lamwaka highlighted progress made by the Inspectorate in enforcing accountability within public institutions.
Between January and December 2024, the Inspectorate of Government investigated and concluded 2,218 corruption cases across the country.
Administrative sanctions, including interdictions and job terminations, were imposed on 1,204 public officers in government ministries, departments, agencies and local governments.
Additionally, 16 public officers were recommended for prosecution at the Anti-Corruption Court, while 37 others were referred to the Leadership Code Tribunal for ethical breaches.
The Inspectorate recorded a 94.7 percent conviction rate at both the Anti-Corruption Court and the Leadership Code Tribunal.
Lamwaka encouraged residents to report corruption through the IGG’s toll-free hotline 0800 111 777 or WhatsApp number 0707 721146.
The IGG Soroti regional office oversees 11 districts and municipalities, including Katakwi, Kapelebyong, Amuria, Soroti, Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Soroti City, Kumi, Ngora, Serere, Bukedea and Kumi Municipality.
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