Kampala, Uganda: The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has appealed to Members of Parliament to take a more active role in the fight against corruption by encouraging citizens to report corrupt practices and maladministration within their communities.
The call was made by the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG), Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, while appearing before Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
Muhairwe said Uganda’s efforts to combat corruption continue to be undermined by deeply entrenched societal attitudes that discourage whistleblowing while, in some instances, glorifying individuals involved in corrupt practices.
“It is a very big challenge because some people now glorify the corrupt while others are discouraged from reporting corruption. However, you can help us change this mindset because you have a great deal of influence,” she told MPs.
She said Members of Parliament are uniquely positioned to influence public attitudes because of their close relationship with the communities they represent.
IGG weighs in on Balaam’s interdictions
Responding to questions regarding the recent interdiction of local government officials by the Minister of State for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, the Deputy IGG welcomed the minister’s anti-corruption efforts, describing them as timely amid growing concerns over impunity in local governments.
She acknowledged that in certain circumstances immediate action may be necessary, particularly where public officials are allegedly caught committing offences.
However, Muhairwe cautioned that such actions should always follow due process to avoid exposing government to costly civil litigation.
“Strengthening institutional systems is more sustainable in the long run,” she said.
Clarifying the legal position on interdictions, she explained that ministers do not directly interdict public officers. Instead, they act through the relevant accounting officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Administrative Officers, who execute the process in accordance with the Public Service Standing Orders.
Rule of law must prevail
Ms Muhairwe also explained why the Inspectorate of Government does not adopt similar approaches when handling corruption cases. She said the Inspectorate is constitutionally mandated to uphold the rule of law and must always observe the principles of natural justice, including the right to be heard and the presumption of innocence.
“The Inspectorate of Government cannot subvert the very law it is mandated to enforce. Our investigations must be thorough, evidence-based and procedurally sound. Any departure from the principles of natural justice would not only undermine public confidence but also expose our actions to successful civil litigation,” she said.
During the committee engagement, Muhairwe outlined several strategic priorities the Inspectorate intends to pursue in the upcoming financial year, including: institutionalising intelligence-led and prosecution-driven investigations, deploying artificial intelligence-powered Leadership Code verification systems, scaling up asset tracing and recovery mechanisms, mainstreaming Transparency, Accountability and Anti-Corruption (TAAC) programmes across Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Local Governments.
Digital transformation underway
The Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government, Rose Kafeero, told legislators that the Inspectorate has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation programme aimed at digitising and automating its systems and business processes.
She said the initiative aligns with the Government of Uganda’s broader digital transformation agenda and is expected to improve operational efficiency, strengthen service delivery and enhance the institution’s capacity to prevent and combat corruption.
Muhairwe reaffirmed the Inspectorate’s commitment to working closely with Parliament, government institutions, accountability agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector and the public to strengthen integrity, promote accountable governance and intensify the fight against corruption and maladministration.
The Deputy IGG was accompanied by directors and assistant directors from the Inspectorate of Government during the committee engagement.
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