Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Inspectorate of Government?
2. Which are the enabling Laws of the Inspectorate of Government?
3. What are the powers of the Inspectorate of Government?
4. What are the functions of the Inspectorate of Government?
5. Who works at the Inspectorate of Government?
6. How are employees of the Inspectorate of Government recruited?
7. What is the structure of the Inspectorate of Government?
8. Where are the Regional Offices of the Inspectorate of Government located?
9. How does the Inspectorate of Government promote good governance?
10. What does the Inspectorate of Government consider to be corruption?
11. When should one report/complain to the IGG?
12. In what ways can one report/complain to the IGG?
13. Does the IGG charge the public for the services provided?
14. How does the IGG investigate complaints of corruption?
15. Can the IGG investigate matters which are being heard before courts?
16. Who is supposed to implement the recommendations of the IGG?
17. Whom is the IGG answerable to?
18. Which Officers & Leaders does the mandate of the Inspectorate (Jurisdiction) extend to?

LEADERSHIP CODE

19. Which leaders are required to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities to the IGG?
20. How often are leaders required to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities to the IGG?
21. Do members of the public have access to the declarations made by leaders?
22. Is it acceptable for public officials to conduct business with the institutions in which they work?
23. Is it acceptable for an individual to be employed in two public positions and receive two salaries from the Government?
24. Is it acceptable for leaders to keep gifts given to them while on official duty?
25. What are the penalties for failure to declare, or false declaration of incomes, assets and liabilities; or violation of the Leadership Code Act?

1. What is the Inspectorate of Government?

The Inspectorate of Government is an independent office established by Government in 1986 to fight official corruption and administrative injustices.

The mission of the Inspectorate is to promote good governance through the removal of corruption, mismanagement and administrative injustice from public offices in the Republic of Uganda.

2. Which are the enabling Laws of the Inspectorate of Government?

(i) The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (Chapter 13
thereof), which upgraded the status of the office to a constitutional and independent office.

(ii) The Inspectorate of Government Act, Act No. 5 2002.

3. What are the powers of the Inspectorate of Government?

(i) Article 230 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda gives the Inspectorate of Government powers to investigate, cause investigation, arrest, cause arrest, prosecute or cause prosecution in respect of cases involving corruption, abuse of authority or of public office.

(ii) The IGG/Inspectorate also has powers to;

(a) Investigate any bank account, purchase account, share account, expense account or any other account or safe deposit in a bank, for purposes of the Act. (S.14 of IGG Act).

(b) Make orders or give such directions as are necessary in the circumstances, during the course of his/her duties or as a consequence of his/her findings (see S.14 (6) of IGG Act).

(c) Summon any person who in the opinion of the Inspectorate is able to give relevant information to the work of the Inspectorate (Section 26 (1) (a) of the IGG Act).

(d) summon a public officer or any other person to answer questions concerning his/her duties or to produce documents in his/her possession or under his/her charge (S. 12 a |&c of the IGG Act).

(e) enter and inspect the premises or property of any government department, person or any authority to gain access to any required documents or items.

4. What are the functions of the Inspectorate of Government?

Article 8 of the Inspectorate of Government Act 2002 stipulates that the functions of the Inspectorate of Government are as follows:-

(i) to promote and foster strict adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice in administration;

(ii) to eliminate and foster the elimination of corruption, abuse of authority and of public office;

(iii) to promote fair, efficient and good governance in public offices;

(iv) Enforce the Leadership Code Act, 2002;

(v) to investigate any act or omission, advice, decision or recommendation by a public officer or any other relevant authority taken, made, given, done in exercise for administrative functions;

(vi) to stimulate public awareness about the values of constitutionalism in general and the activities of the office, in particular, through any media and other means it considers appropriate;
(vii) to inquire into the methods by which law enforcing agents and the state agencies execute their functions, and the extent to which the practices and procedures employed in the execution of such functions uphold, encourage or interfere with the rules of law in Uganda;

(viii) to investigate the conduct of any public officer which may be connected with corruption in public offices;

(ix) to take necessary measures for the detection and prevention of corruption in public offices;

(x) perform any other functions that Parliament may prescribe.

See also Article 225 of the 1995 Constitution.

5. Who works at the Inspectorate of Government?

(i) Article 3 of the Inspectorate of Government Act 2002 provides for the composition of the Inspectorate, which consists of three officers, the Inspector General of Government and his two Deputies. The Article makes it mandatory for at least one of the above three to be a person qualified to be appointed a Judge of the High Court.

(ii) Section 15 of the IGG Act provides for the appointment of a person who qualifies to be appointment to the office of a Permanent Secretary to be appointed as the Secretary to the Inspectorate.

(iii) The Inspectorate employs other regular personnel from professionally qualified graduates in various disciplines, particularly Law, accountancy, Social Sciences, Economics, Journalism and other relevant disciplines.

(iv) In addition, the Inspectorate enjoys the services of other Government institutions and agencies, like the Police and other security organizations who send their personnel to the Inspectorate on secondment.

(v) The Inspectorate also employs several cadres of support staff eg. Secretaries, Copy –typists, Clerks, etc.

6. How are employees of the Inspectorate of Government recruited?

The Inspector General of Government and his Deputies are appointed by the President of the Republic of Uganda with the approval of Parliament. They are eligible for re-appointment to a four-year term only once. One of the three must be a person qualified to be appointed a Judge of the High Court.

The Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government is appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Public Service Commission under such terms and conditions as applicable to a Permanent Secretary.
He serves on a 3 year renewable Contract.
(Article 223 of the Constitution and Section 3 of the IGG Act).

The rest of the employees are appointed to a two-year renewable contract by the Appointments Board, which is chaired by the Inspector General of Government.
The appointment of the Inspectorate staff is carried out through a transparent process that involves competing for the positions as advertised in the media. The law requires that the Inspectorate Staff must be appointed on the basis of their integrity and competence. (Section 7 (2) (d) of the IGG Act).

7. What is the structure of the Inspectorate of Government?

The Inspectorate of Government is headed by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) assisted by two Deputy Inspector Generals of Government (DIGGs). Currently only one DIGG has been appointed. The Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government (SEC/IG) heads the Department of Finance and Administration and is the Accounting Officer of the Institution. Below the Deputy Inspector Generals of Government are five Directors who head the Directorates of Operations, Legal Affairs, Education and Prevention, Leadership Code, and Regional Offices and Follow Up.

Below the Directors are Senior Principal Inspectorate Officers (SPIOs), Principal Inspectorate Officers (PIOs), Senior Inspectorate Officers (SIOs), Inspectorate Officers (IOs), and Assistant Inspectorate Officers (AIOs) in that order. Below the Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government (SEC/IG) are the Under Secretary (US), Principal Assistant Secretary (PAS), Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS), Senior Personnel Officer(SPO), Senior Accountant (SAS), Senior Office Superintendent (SOS), Accounts Assistants (AA), Cashier, Police Orderlies and other Support staff. The Information and Internal Inspection Unit (III) in the Department of Finance and Administration is headed by a Senior Principal Inspectorate Officers (SPIOs) who reports directly to the Inspector General of Government (IGG). In the Directorate of Regional Offices and Follow Up there are nine regional offices each headed by a Regional Inspectorate Officer (RIO) who is at the rank of Principal Inspectorate Officer (PIO), and deputised by a Deputy Regional Inspectorate Officer (DRIO) who is at the rank of Senior Inspectorate Officers (SIO). Each regional office has five technical officers and five other support staff. The entire Inspectorate has 312 staff. There are also five United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) serving within the technical ranks of the Inspectorate.

8. Where are the Regional Offices of the Inspectorate of Government located?

The Inspectorate of Government Regional Offices are located in the following towns and cater for the given districts:-

9. How does the Inspectorate of Government promote good governance?

In the execution of the mandate to curb corruption and promote good governance in Public Institutions, the office uses a two pronged approach –enforcement and preventive measures.

(a) Enforcement measures include:

• Investigations into complaints of corruption, mal-administration, abuse of office and authority, with a view to recommend punitive measures where the abuses might have taken place.

• Arrest of persons suspected of having committed corrupt acts.

• Prosecution of officials that investigations reveal to have been involved in corrupt practices and abuse of office and authority.

• Inspection and examination of Government documents and premises.

• Enforcement of the leadership Code of Conduct.

• Implementation of the Ombudsman function- investigation into cases of mal-administration in public offices.

• Making orders and directives that are necessary in the circumstances.

(b) Preventive measures include:

• Public Awareness Programmes: These are used to raise peoples awareness about the dangers of corruption and misuse of public offices as well as empowering them to participate in the fight against corruption. Under Public Awareness Programmes the office conducts integrity workshops, airs programmes on Radio and TV and publishes a magazine, brochures and booklets about the evils of corruption.

• Policy & Systems Study: In order to curb corruption and promote good governance, the office also carries out research into policies, laws, regulations and systems of Public Institutions with a view to identifying areas and procedures that may be prone to corruption and make recommendations for remedial action.

10. What does the Inspectorate of Government consider to be corruption?

The Inspectorate of Government considers corruption to be the abuse of public office for private gain. This can be manifested through embezzlement, bribery, nepotism, influence peddling, theft of public funds or assets, fraud, forgery, causing financial or property loss and false accounting in public affairs.

The abuse of office may also entail the violation of rules and regulations of a public organisation and or Standing Orders of the Government of Uganda. Corruption is not limited to the acts stipulated above but includes all acts that amount to abuse of public office for private gain.

11. When should one report/complain to the IGG?

Any member of the public who realizes that an act of corruption, abuse of office or of authority, or administrative injustice has been or is being or is about to be committed in a public office or by a public officer Uganda should report the matter to the Inspector General of Government.

12. In what ways can one report/complain to the IGG?

Reporting a matter to the Inspector General of Government (IGG) can be done in any of the following ways;

(i) Writing to or visiting any of the offices of the Inspectorate of Government.
(ii) Telephoning, faxing, or e-mailing the complaint to any of the offices of the Inspectorate of Government.
(iii) Through the web site in the section titled “Complain to the IGG”.
(iv) Anonymous complaints are welcome and will be handled. There is telephone hotline 347387 at the head office in Kampala for rapid response to complaints.
(v) Complaints should clearly state what the complaint is, against whom the complaint is, where and when the alleged act or offence was committed, and then complainant’s address and phone number, where applicable should be provided.

13. Does the IGG charge the public for the services provided?

The services of the Inspectorate of Government are provided to the public free of charge.

14. How does the IGG investigate complaints of corruption?

The Inspectorate of Government investigates complaints through interviews and interrogations of the parties concerned, recording of statements, inspections of relevant sites, verifications from valuers, use of expert opinions, examination of accounts, review and scrutiny of documents.

While carrying out investigations the principles of Natural Justice are always observed and the accused party is always given a chance to give his/her side of the story.

15. Can the IGG investigate matters which are being heard before courts?

Article 19 of the Inspectorate of Government Act 2002, precludes the Inspectorate from questioning or reviewing;

(a) the decision of any Court of law or of any judicial officer in the exercise of his or her duties.
(b) the decision of any tribunal established by law in the exercise of its functions; and
(c) any civil matter, which is before court at the commencement of the Inspectorate’s investigations.

16. Who is supposed to implement the recommendations of the IGG?

The recommendations made by the Inspector General of Government following investigations are supposed to be implemented by various authorities to whom such recommendation are directed. In matters concerning suspensions and dismissals the appointing authority is required to take action. The appointing authorities include the President, the Public Service Commission, District Service Commissions and the Education Service Commission among others. Implementing authorities are required to implement the recommendations in accordance with the relevant laws.

17. Whom is the IGG answerable to?

Article 231 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda requires the Inspectorate of Government to submit to Parliament at least once every six months, a report on the performance of its functions, and such recommendations as the Inspectorate deems appropriate.

18. Which Officers & Leaders does the mandate of the Inspectorate (Jurisdiction) extend to?

According to Section 9 of the IGG Act, the jurisdiction of the Inspectorate covers officers and leaders serving in the following offices:-

(a) government department; undertaking or service;
(b) a statutory corporation or authority;
(c) the Cabinet;
(d) Parliament;
(e) a court of law;
(f) the Uganda Police Force;
(g) the Uganda Prison Services;
(h) a government aided school, college or other institution of learning that accesses public funds;
(i) the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces;
(j) the Local Defence Force.
(k) a local government council or local government unit or a committee of such council or unit.
(l) a council, boards, society or committee established by law for the control and regulation of any profession;
(m) a public commission of such council or unit;
(n) national security organizations including Internal Security Organisation ISO;
(o) any other person, office or body that administers public funds on behalf of the public.

LEADERSHIP CODE

19. Which leaders are required to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities to the IGG?

The leaders required to make declaration are:-

• The President,
• Vice President,
• Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament,
• Judges, District Chairpersons,
• Magistrates,
• High Commissioners and Ambassadors,
• All Civil Servants above the rank of Head of Department by whatever name,
• Presidential Advisors,
• Aides and Secretaries,
• Members of Boards and Commissions established by the Constitution,
• Managers of organisations in which government has a controlling interest including banks,
• Universities,
• Projects,
• All employees of Uganda Revenue Authority(URA) above the rank of Assistant Revenue Officer,
• And all officers of the Inspectorate of Government from the rank of Principal Inspectorate Officer and above.
• The details of the leaders required to declare are found in the Second Schedule of the Leadership Code Act 2002, which is available on this web site.

20. How often are leaders required to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities to the IGG?

Leaders are required to make declarations within three months of appointment as a leader and thereafter every two years during the month of March.

21. Do members of the public have access to the declarations made by leaders?

Article 7 of the Leadership Code Act 2002 states that the contents of a declaration under this Code shall be treated as public information and shall be accessible to members of the public upon application to the Inspector General of Government in the form prescribed under this Code.

22. Is it acceptable for public officials to conduct business with the institutions in which they work?

Article 12 of the Leadership Code Act 2002 states that a leader, a leader’s spouse, agent, private company or public company or business enterprise in which the leader, leader’s spouse or agent has a controlling interest shall not seek, accept or hold any contract with any government body which the leader controls or directly participates in the decision making of its affairs.

23. Is it acceptable for an individual to be employed in two public positions and receive two salaries from the Government?

The Public Service Standing Order bar an individual from being fully employed in two positions in the public service and receiving two salaries from the Consolidated fund.

24. Is it acceptable for leaders to keep gifts given to them while on official duty?

Article 10 of the Leadership Code 2002 states that a gift or donation to a leader on a public or ceremonial occasion, or commission to a leader on any transaction shall be treated as a gift or donation or commission to the Government or Institution represented by the leader and shall be declared to the Inspector General; unless the gift or donation is in the nature of a souvenir or ornament and does not exceed five currency points in value; and the government or institution shall keep an inventory of gift handed over to them.

25. What are the penalties for failure to declare, or false declaration of incomes, assets and liabilities; or violation of the Leadership Code Act?

Article 35 of the Leadership Code Act 2002 states that a leader who breaches the Code shall be warned in writing, or be liable to dismissal office or shall vacate office. Other penalties include forfeiture of under declared property.