The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has called on Members of Parliament to take a leading role in the fight against corruption and maladministration by encouraging citizens to report corrupt practices within their communities.
The appeal was made yesterday by Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe during an engagement between the Inspectorate and Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
Mrs. Muhairwe said Uganda’s anti-corruption efforts continue to face challenges due to deeply rooted societal attitudes and beliefs that discourage people from speaking out against corruption and abuse of office.
She noted that some members of the public have developed a tendency to admire individuals involved in corruption, while others fear reporting wrongdoing, creating an environment that allows corrupt practices to thrive.
“It is a very big challenge because some people now glorify the corrupt while others are discouraged from reporting corruption. However, you can help us change this mindset because you have a great deal of influence,” she told MPs.
The Deputy IGG emphasised that Members of Parliament are strategically placed to influence public attitudes because of their close connection with citizens at the grassroots level.
Responding to questions about the recent interdiction of local government officials by Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, Mrs. Muhairwe welcomed efforts aimed at fighting corruption, describing them as timely amid growing concerns over impunity in some local government institutions.
She, however, cautioned that sudden administrative actions must follow established procedures to avoid exposing government to costly legal battles.
The Deputy IGG explained that while decisive action is sometimes necessary when individuals are caught engaging in misconduct, strengthening institutional systems remains the most sustainable approach to addressing corruption.
She clarified that ministers, including the Inspectorate of Government, do not directly carry out interdictions. Instead, formal interdiction processes are handled by responsible officers such as Permanent Secretaries and Chief Administrative Officers in line with the Public Service Standing Orders.
On why the IGG does not adopt similar approaches, Mrs. Muhairwe said the institution is mandated to uphold the rule of law and must respect principles of natural justice, including the right to be heard and the presumption of innocence.
“The Inspectorate of Government cannot subvert the very law it is mandated to enforce. Our investigations must be thorough, evidence-based, and procedurally sound,” she said.
She added that disregarding due process would undermine public confidence and expose government actions to successful legal challenges.
Mrs. Muhairwe outlined the Inspectorate’s strategic priorities for the upcoming financial year, including:
- Institutionalising intelligence-led and prosecution-driven investigations;
- Deploying artificial intelligence-powered leadership code verification systems;
- Scaling up asset tracing and recovery mechanisms;
- Mainstreaming Transparency, Accountability, and Anti-Corruption (TAAC) initiatives across Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Local Governments; and
- Enhancing enforcement and compliance monitoring of IGG recommendations.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government, Mrs. Rose Kafeero, informed MPs that the institution has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation programme aimed at digitising and automating its systems and business processes.
She said the initiative aligns with the Government of Uganda’s wider digital transformation agenda and is expected to improve efficiency, strengthen service delivery, and enhance the Inspectorate’s capacity to prevent and combat corruption.
The Deputy IGG reaffirmed the Inspectorate’s commitment to working with Parliament, government institutions, accountability bodies, civil society, the private sector, and citizens to promote integrity, strengthen accountability, and intensify the fight against corruption and maladministration.
Mrs. Muhairwe was accompanied by directors and assistant directors from the Inspectorate of Government.
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