IG: 4,000 public officials have not declared their wealth

The Inspectorate of Government asked both government and parliament to speed up the process of amending the Leadership Code Tribunal Act 2002 that is said to be before cabinet.

The call was made by the chairperson of the Leadership Code Tribunal Dr. Roselyn Karugonjo Ssegawa together with the Deputy IGG George Bamugemereire.

They said the new amendments will give more powers to the Leadership Code Tribunal to prosecute politicians and government officials who fail to declare their income and assets on time as required by the law.

In 2002, Parliament enacted the Leadership Code Act 2002, which provided detailed enforcement procedures for the Inspectorate of Government.

The code require all persons holding political offices from the office of the President to the office of the Sub-county chairpersons to declare their income, assets and property after every two years.

The other category that is required to declare their wealth are the public Servants who include judges, magistrates, Directors, Commissioners, District Resident commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, under Secretaries, Chief Administrative officers among others.

But to their dismay over 4000 people including politicians and civil servants have become errant in declaring their wealth as required by the law.

The IG says the existing law only mandates the Leadership Code tribunal to make recommendations hence the need to amend the law to empower the tribunal to deal with such errant officers.

Bamugemereire also also requested the appointing authority to appoint a substantive Inspector General of Government as the current situation limits them to handle some of the complicated cases.