Speaker of Parliament, Anitah Among has urged the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya intensify awareness campaigns on the dangers of corruption in order to fight the vice in the country.
She made the call while receiving the Bi-Annual Performance Report of the Inspectorate of Government, after Kamya reported an increase in the number of complaints filed between January-July 2024 totaling to 1657 complaints, compared to 1276 reported between July-December 2023. Kamya attributed the increment to the increased engagement with the public on the need to report corruption cases.
Submitting the report, Beti Kamya, revealed that only Shs2.3 billion was recovered from corrupt individuals between January to June 2024, out of the Shs15.7 billion that had been recommended for recovery. She also said that about Shs10 trillion is lost annually to corruption which accounts for over 44% of the annual revenue collections being lost to corruption.
“I know you create awareness to the public about corruption and about misuse of Government funds, I want you to increase that awareness outside 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. So, when you create awareness, it will reduce some kind of corruption that is outside there,” said Among.
The Speaker also thanked the IGG for consistently handing over her performance reports to Parliament as required in the Constitution, saying there are complaints amongst some MPs that some agencies aren’t handing in their reports to Parliament as required.
“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 and we will always give you our unwavering support as Parliament towards that. And I want to ask the Chairperson Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee that when the IGG comes to knock on your door, I want you to accord them the highest support that they will always need because they do a great job which we appreciate as a country. We as Parliament, we know what you are doing and the country knows what you are doing,” remarked
Kamya also decried the widespread corruption in recruitment for Government jobs, revealing that the Inspectorate conducted research on the cost and extent of corruption in recruitment of staff by district service commissions in 20 districts and results showed rampant corruption in the recruitment process.
“We also conducted a cost benefit analysis of outsourcing private recruitment firms, by Government departments and agencies. The research was undertaken as a result of various complaints received on issues of irregular recruitment, by Commissions and preliminary findings confirm, widespread corruption in recruitment process in Government, especially, the district service commissions,”
Kamya noted that if the Inspectorate of Government was adequately funded, the corruption figures could drop down.
“A scientific study was done and this country is estimated to lose up to Shs10Trn per year to corruption. If the Inspectorate of Government was adequately funded, this figure could significantly come down. Shs10 trillion per year is nearly 44% of our domestic revenue. So, when 44% of our generated domestic revenue is lost to corruption and nothing much is done to stop that, I think it is overlooking a much important sector,” said Kamya.
The IGG also urged Ugandans to join the war on corruption noting that during the reporting period, the Inspectorate of Government prioritized prevention of corruption as the main approach in the elimination of corruption and promotion of strict adherence to the rule of law. Adding, “Through this prevention method, we have opened up the Inspectorate of Government to the public, so we are inviting the public to join the war against corruption and to recognize themselves as victims of corruption.”
