Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has called on the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to boost public awareness campaigns in the fight against corruption. Speaking during the presentation of the IGG’s bi-annual reports, Among emphasized the need for the Inspectorate to build closer relationships with citizens to facilitate the flow of information about corruption.
“I know you are creating awareness to the public on corruption, misuse of public funds, etc., but I want you to increase [the efforts],” Among said, urging the IGG to expand their outreach efforts. “You must create a friendship with the citizenry. They are the ones with the information we need.”
Among made the remarks while receiving the IGG’s reports for the periods covering July-December 2023 and January-June 2024.
Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, outlined key achievements during these periods. “For the period covering July-December 2023 and January-June 2024, the Inspectorate recovered assets worth UGX 8 billion, conducted 802 corruption-related investigations, concluded 1,778 investigations, and inspected over 1,000 projects,” Kamya reported.
However, Kamya also highlighted the challenges facing the Inspectorate, such as limited funding, case backlogs, and outdated systems. “Inadequate funding, analogue systems, and high staff turnover are major challenges impeding the Inspectorate’s capacity to effectively implement its mandate,” she said.
The Speaker reiterated the need for more resources to empower the IGG to tackle corruption head-on. “You have our support, but we must ensure the IGG has the tools necessary to achieve its mission,” she added.
The push for more public engagement comes as Uganda continues to confront widespread corruption across various sectors.