The Inspector General of Government (IG) Beti Olive Kamya has lauded the Ugandan public for their growing involvement in the battle against corruption.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre ahead of celebrations marking the 38th anniversary of the Inspectorate of Government (IG), Kamya emphasized how public participation has been instrumental in driving significant progress in the fight against corruption.
“We are here to celebrate the remarkable increase in civic awareness and public participation in combating corruption, about the dangers of corruption and by the public taking ownership of the war against corruption and getting involved themselves. As we have seen in the recent past there are unprecedented statistics in the number of complaints received in the financial year 2023 stroke 24 alone.” Kamya said
She highlighted various avenues through which citizens are stepping up, including traditional media, social media, whistleblower platforms, and court proceedings.
In recent years through this raised awareness and public participation of which we really want to celebrate, we are here to celebrate the amazing public participation, civic awareness (1:19)
Kamya revealed unprecedented figures, stating that the IG received 2,377 complaints and whistleblower accounts from citizens during the financial year 2023/24.
“This surge in public reporting is directly linked to heightened awareness, as more Ugandans come forward to expose mismanagement and corruption in various sectors,” she noted.
Additionally, the declaration of assets, income, and liabilities saw a compliance rate of 88.8%, a notable improvement from previous years. In financial oversight, the IG uncovered UGX 30 billion in misappropriated funds, a significant increase from the UGX 2 billion previously recovered annually.
She added that at the Leadership Code Tribunal, the the directorate concluded 28 cases with 24 convictions (85.7%). The IG recovered UGX 14B, including UGX 6B in cash and property worth UGX 8.7B.
She further stated that that the IG also concluded 852 corruption cases in FY 2023/2024, including 18 high-profile ones, recovering UGX 17 billion and issued 251 administrative actions against public officials, with 26 set for prosecution.
Kamya also celebrated the growth of the IG’s Ombudsman function, which handles grievances from government employees. She shared that 498 cases were received in the last year alone, including complaints related to employment disputes, delayed services, and pension payments.
“We expedited nearly UGX 400 billion in pension payments to rightful beneficiaries who had been previously denied or delayed in 2023-24 alone, and through dispute resolution or monitoring of what’s going on we can hasten the process of them getting their pension” she said
Adding that: “Pensioners who have been in the past tossed up and about because of not get because of their pension when they try to get their pension imagine someone has worked for government for 40 years and when they retire they want to go home and get their pension but unscrupulous public servants toss them up and about as they use or take advantage of the pensions that are due to them they now know that they don’t have to walk backwards and forwards to their institutions that are playing with their pensions they now know that they can come to the inspectorate of government.”
She explained that through dispute resolution or monitoring the process of them getting their pension , in 2023-24 alone nearly 400 billion shillings f pension money was able to be given to people who are the owners of the beneficiaries the actual beneficiaries.
To mark the 38th anniversary of the IG, Kamya announced that on September 18, 2024, the Inspectorate will open its doors to the public at a special event at Layibi Grounds.
“We are bringing the IG to the people,” she stated, explaining that Ugandans will have the opportunity to present their concerns directly to IG officials from various departments. We encourage all citizens who have issues to come forward on this day. The gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” she said.
The Inspectorate of Government was established by presidential decree in 1986 and later enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution in 1995 under Chapter 13. Over the years, the IG has played a crucial role in fostering adherence to the rule of law, eliminating corruption.
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