As the world marked the International Anti-Corruption day yesterday, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres said countries can only root out corruption if they develop transparent institutions.
"We can only achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development if every nation has strong, transparent and inclusive institutions, based on the rule of law and supported by the public," Guterres said.
In Uganda, this year's anti-corruption campaign targeted the institutions of government after the public raised concerns of corruption in various public sectors .
The IGG consulted and held meetings with ministries, government bodies and civil society organisations in a bid to fight corruption.
Cissy Kagaba, the executive director Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda said to curb corruption in public sectors, the information about government officials ought to be made public.
"There is a process a person is supposed to go through to get the information about our leaders. When people engage in corruption tendencies, they tend to hide their earnings through property, " Kagaba said
The IGG, Irene Mulyagonja, said they have put in place several channels where the public can report corrupt officials.
Mulyagonja said during their caravan across the country, the public alleged that the suspects are tortured and pay bribes to the police to be released on bond despite police bond being free.
Kagaba said the public might have lost trust in these channels because little is done to corrupt officials .
She said: "Those who are corrupt will be arrested but they are going to be released on bond which is a constitutional right. This is where the public will come in. They will think these people will do what they do and will still be released. Public trust will be eroded because they don't see what is being done. "
Kagaba urged the IGG to protect the identity of the people that report corrupt officials and also put measures in place to work with the public in order to end the vice of corruption.
