Police, public servants accused of being corrupt in Elgon region

GERALD MATEMBU

Government auditors and inspectors have been put on the spot for colluding with accounting officers to conceal corruption in districts and other government agencies.

The revelation  was made by members of the public during a stake holder's engagement organised by IGG's office in Elgon sub region.

The deputy IGG George Bamugemereire underscored the power of the public in the fight against corruption, calling for further community empowerment.

Bamugemereire was in the region for a week long engagement with various stake holders on anti corruption matters.

The team conducted spot checks on various government institutions in addition to boardroom meetings.

In the meetings, members of the public cited mismanagement of land cases, nepotism and bribery in staff recruitment, extortion of money from patients in public health facilities, shoddy construction works, mismanagement of staff salaries, abuse of office as some of the top corruption tendencies they encounter everyday.

In Mbale, administrative authorities and police topped the list of those that the people said are corrupt.

Administrative officers were accused of falsification of records, diverting staff salaries and mismanagement of procurement processes while police was accused of continuous extortion of money from those seeking its services.

In Kapchorwa, stake holders told Bamugemereire that their efforts are watered down by watchdog authorities such as auditors, inspectors, police after they collude with accounting officers to conceal the vice.

The deputy IGG noted that there are some rotten elements in the system adding that some have already been interdicted.

Bamugemereire attributed the corruption in the country to governance gaps in implementation and supervision adding that most corruption cases are opportunistic and preventable.

He noted the inspectorate is bogged down by micro complaints which could have been resolved locally.

He called for establishment of local complaint handling mechanisms to deal with minor complaints so that the IGG can deal with bigger issues.

He said the inspectorate receives more than 300 complaints annually.