Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has called on the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, to strengthen public engagement and intensify awareness campaigns on corruption to effectively combat the vice in Uganda.
The Speaker made the appeal while receiving the IGG’s Bi-Annual Performance Report, which highlighted a significant increase in corruption complaints from the public.
“I know you create awareness to the public about corruption and about misuse of Government funds. I want you to increase that awareness out there. Create friendship with these people, when you create friendship with these people, they will be able to tell you, ‘so and so took this’, and that will be a starting point,” Among said.
She emphasised that increased public cooperation could help reduce the widespread corruption that continues to plague Uganda.
The Speaker also commended the IGG for regularly submitting her performance reports to Parliament, a constitutional requirement that some government agencies have failed to meet.
She reaffirmed Parliament’s support for the IGG’s anti-corruption efforts, urging the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to provide the necessary assistance to the Inspectorate whenever needed.
“We want to thank you for the good work you are doing. We do appreciate the work you are doing for this country, and it is you and us to bring change in this country,” Among said, pledging unwavering support from Parliament.
During the January to July 2024 period, the number of complaints received by the Inspectorate rose to 1,657, up from 1,276 in the previous six months.
Kamya attributed this increase to heightened public involvement in reporting corruption cases, thanks to ongoing awareness efforts by the Inspectorate.
In her report, Kamya revealed that only Shs2.3 billion was recovered from corrupt individuals between January and June 2024, despite Shs15.7 billion being earmarked for recovery. She expressed deep concern about the estimated Shs10 trillion lost to corruption annually, a figure representing nearly 44% of Uganda’s domestic revenue.
“A scientific study was done, and this country is estimated to lose up to Shs10 trillion per year to corruption. If the Inspectorate of Government was adequately funded, this figure could significantly come down,” Kamya stated.
She urged the public to view themselves as victims of corruption and join the fight against the vice.
The IGG noted that the Inspectorate had prioritised the prevention of corruption during the reporting period, advocating for strict adherence to the rule of law.
Kamya also highlighted widespread corruption in the recruitment of government employees, particularly within district service commissions.
A study conducted in 20 districts revealed rampant bribery and irregularities in the recruitment process. To address this, Kamya suggested that government agencies consider outsourcing recruitment to private firms as a way to reduce corruption.