Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has lashed out at the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over its public handling of the arrest of senior officials in the Office of the Prime Minister’s Department of Refugees, warning that anti-corruption efforts must not come at the expense of constitutional rights and due process.
In a statement issued on June 8, 2026, ULS President, Senior Counsel Isaac Ssemakadde, accused the Inspectorate of engaging in what he described as “trial by media” after publicly parading six officials before journalists following their arrest over allegations of extorting money from asylum seekers seeking refugee status in Uganda.
The officials including Commissioner for Refugee Management Patrick Okello and Assistant Commissioner Douglas Asiimwe were arrested alongside several other officers attached to the Department of Refugees. The arrests stem from investigations into allegations that officials solicited between $5,000 and $10,000 from foreign nationals in exchange for facilitating refugee status approvals.
According to investigators, the suspected scheme targeted asylum seekers from countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia and other conflict-affected states seeking refuge in Uganda. Authorities allege that applicants whose refugee claims had previously stalled or been rejected were asked to pay substantial sums to secure favourable outcomes.
The Inspectorate of Government conducted a high-profile operation at the Department of Refugees offices in Old Kampala, where investigators reportedly seized laptops, mobile phones, files and other documents believed to be relevant to the probe.
However, while ULS acknowledged the importance of combating corruption, it argued that publicly presenting suspects before the media before investigations and judicial proceedings are concluded undermines the constitutional presumption of innocence.
“The Inspectorate’s recent public parading of six officials before the media, prior to completing investigations or any judicial process, is a regrettable spectacle that directly contradicts its constitutional and statutory mandate,” Ssemakadde stated.
The lawyers’ body cited Article 28(3)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, arguing that media exposés effectively amount to extrajudicial punishment.
ULS further contended that such actions risk prejudicing future court proceedings, contaminating evidence, damaging reputations and undermining the right to a fair hearing. “By labelling suspects in press statements and inviting public condemnation, the IGG prejudices potential trials, contaminates evidence and inflicts immediate and irreversible reputational harm arising from public judgment prior to trial,” the statement further reads.
The criticism from ULS comes amid one of the most significant corruption investigations to hit Uganda’s refugee management system in recent years.
Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa under a globally praised open-door refugee policy. The Department of Refugees under the Office of the Prime Minister is responsible for receiving, documenting and settling refugees, as well as coordinating refugee response efforts with humanitarian agencies and development partners.
Patrick Okello assumed office as Commissioner for Refugees in 2024, succeeding Douglas Asiimwe, who had served in an acting capacity before becoming Assistant Commissioner. Both officials have been central figures in Uganda’s refugee management structure.
Ssemakadde warned that public shaming of suspects before conviction can have long-lasting consequences beyond the courtroom.
The society argued that media exposure destroys careers, stigmatizes families, triggers mental health challenges and may deter competent public servants from accepting assignments in sensitive sectors such as refugee administration.
The lawyers’ body also cautioned that aggressive public messaging by investigative agencies risks creating pressure on courts and encouraging public perceptions of guilt before cases are heard.
Ssemakadde urged the Inspectorate to conduct investigations professionally and confidentially where necessary while respecting due process guarantees.
“The IGG must immediately abandon these unconstitutional media stunts. Investigations should be conducted with professionalism, confidentiality where required, and unwavering fidelity to due process,” he said.
ULS further cited the case of Ojangole Patricia v Attorney General (HCMC 303/2013), where the court cautioned that corruption cannot be defeated using methods that themselves compromise the integrity of the legal process.
The Inspectorate of Government has not publicly responded to the ULS statement. However, the anti-corruption agency has maintained that the arrests are part of ongoing efforts to tackle corruption within public institutions and ensure accountability in the delivery of government services.
As investigations continue, the clash between the country’s anti-corruption watchdog and its largest professional legal body has opened a wider debate about how far investigative agencies should go in publicising arrests before suspects have their day in court.
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