Hon. Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala has today officially assumed office as the Inspector General of Government (IGG).

She was warmly received by the Deputy Inspectors General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria and Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, together with the Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government, Mrs. Rose N. Kafeero.

The Inspectorate of Government congratulates and welcomes her as she begins her tenure of service to the nation.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the World Bank partnership aimed at combating corruption, improving service delivery and enhancing the livelihoods of disadvantaged communities in Uganda.

Speaking during a meeting with a World Bank team at the IG Head Office on Thursday, Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, said the IG remains dedicated to ensuring that the Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Anti-Corruption (STAAC) sub-component continues to stand as a model of development integrity and citizen empowerment.

Her remarks follow the World Bank’s renewed confidence in the IG as it prepares to implement the STAAC component under the Fourth Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV).

“The Inspectorate is fully prepared to commence the implementation of the STAAC sub-component under NUSAF IV,” Dr. Okiria affirmed.

She thanked the World Bank for its consistent support and trust in the IG’s mandate and technical capacity, pledging that the benefits of NUSAF IV will reach intended communities transparently and effectively.

World Bank Practice Manager for Social Protection and Jobs, East and Southern Africa, Dr. Suleiman Namara, gave an overview of the evolution of NUSAF and the long-standing collaboration between the IG, the Office of the Prime Minister and the World Bank. He noted that the IG was incorporated into NUSAF II and III following widespread corruption experienced during NUSAF I.

Dr. Namara expressed optimism about NUSAF IV’s success with the IG’s involvement, saying: “What we need to do is to make the project corruption-free. It helps to achieve the intended purpose of the project.”

He reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to the initiative, including the provision of the necessary resources to support its implementation.

The meeting was also attended by Ms. Christabel Sefa, Senior Social Protection Specialist at the World Bank and Team Leader for NUSAF IV and Mr. Joe Nuwamanya, a World Bank Consultant supporting the implementation of NUSAF IV, alongside IG Directors, Managers and Supervisors.

H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in exercise of his constitutional mandate, presided over the swearing-in ceremony of Hon. Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala as the new Inspector General of Government (IGG) in Mbale on Sunday. She succeeds Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe.

Justice Naluzze was joined by the Deputy Inspectors General of Government, Dr. Patricia Okiria and Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, who were reappointed to their respective positions.

At the same ceremony, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo was sworn in as the Principal Judge, and Mr. Lino Anguzu took oath as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) on 6^th November, 2025, conducted a training for Institution Focal Persons (FPs) that will provide technical support to public officers during the declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities period in April 2026.

Mr. Joram Magezi, the Director Leadership Code, urged the over 100 FPs who attended the online training to update information in the registers for all public officers in their respective institutions on the IG Online Declaration System (IG-ODS) by 31^st December 2025.

“Our target is to have 100% declarations and that’s why we must prepare early and ensure that all public officers are registered in the system,” Mr. Magezi said.

The IG is mandated under Leadership Code Act, Cap 33 and Section 7(1) (d) of the IG Act to enforce the Leadership Code of Conduct.

When does a public officer declare?

All Public Officers holding a public office by 1^st April 2026, will be required to submit their declarations to the Inspector General of Government (IGG), from 1^st to 30^th April 2026.  Thereafter, any newly appointed public officer will be required to declare within three months after becoming a public officer; and after every five years in the month of April.

Reminder:

Any public officer who fails to submit their declaration by 30^th April 2026 will be in breach of the Act and will be prosecuted by the Leadership Code Tribunal.

Note:

Leaders who declared in March 2025 are not required to declare in April 2026.

The Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government, Mrs. Rose N. Kafeero, has urged members of the Eastern Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA) to build solid anti-corruption systems to eliminate opportunities for fraud in the procurement processes including the use of technology.

“By embracing and strengthening e-procurement systems, we can significantly reduce opportunities for fraud and build stronger anti-corruption systems,” Mrs. Kafeero said.

She made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech during the regional workshop to fast-track the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) implementation in East Africa on Public Procurement and Integrity Systems at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala.

The workshop was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with the objectives of among others strengthening capacities of oversight institutions, law enforcement, and procurement authorities to detect, investigate, and prosecute bribery, kickbacks, and diversion of funds in procurement including through anti-money laundering and inter-agency cooperation.

Mrs. Kafeero noted that strengthening public procurement and integrity systems is not merely an option but an imperative for sustainable development and public welfare which must be embraced by all EAAACA members.

“The integration of anti-money laundering perspectives in our discussions is also vital, as we must be vigilant in addressing the financial flows associated with corrupt practices. We must reflect on the practical measures that can enhance collaboration between procurement agencies and anti-corruption institutions,” she said.

The Regional Platform to fast-track the implementation of UNCAC in Eastern Africa is a UNODC initiative bringing together 10 countries in Eastern Africa namely: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

It is aimed at identifying common gaps in their legal and institutional frameworks addressing bribery and integrity risks, and to define shared solutions and technical assistance needs.

Mr. Francesco Checchi, Team Lead, Africa Anti-Corruption Hub at UNODC, noted that the workshop is expected to among others generate concrete, measurable outcomes that can be tracked within 12 to 24 months.

Additionally, the launch of an inter-agency coordination mechanism in at least two countries between procurement authorities and anti-bribery agencies to address procurement-related flaws.

Reports from the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) estimate that corruption costs African nations about USD 148 billion annually.

The World Bank indicates that 30% of public procurement contracts in developing countries are affected by corruption, and up to 50% of public procurement budgets may be lost to fraud or mismanagement. 

On 11^th September 2025, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) joined over 300 secondary school head teachers under the Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU) at Masaka Secondary School for a national engagement aimed at strengthening integrity, accountability, and effective school management.

Representing the IG, Mr. Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, Director Ombudsman Affairs, together with Mr. Agaba Samuel, Regional Inspectorate Officer, Masaka Regional Office, and other IG staff, sensitized participants on the IG’s threefold mandate: fighting corruption, ensuring adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice (Ombudsman Role), and enforcing the Leadership Code of Conduct.

The IG team highlighted common challenges in the education sector such as staff grievances, student welfare issues, financial mismanagement, irregular procurement, and forgery of academic documents.

They urged head teachers to strengthen grievance handling mechanisms, uphold ethical leadership and work closely with the IG in addressing systemic irregularities.

The session concluded with a call to action for head teachers to be champions of accountability and transparency, fostering safe and effective learning environments in partnership with the IG.

The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, has called on the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat to actively participate in the war against corruption.

Speaking during a one-day workshop held on 4^th September 2025 at the Secretariat’s headquarters in Entebbe, Dr. Okiria reminded staff and members that winning the war against corruption requires collective effort.

“You have a responsibility to participate in the war against corruption because when we collectively fight against it, it will be won,” Dr. Okiria emphasized.

The training focused on raising awareness about corruption and other fraud-related matters, and equipping participants with knowledge on how to prevent and report corruption. The workshop was coordinated by the Inspectorate of Government’s Directorate of Research, Education and Advocacy (DREA).

The Secretariat leadership commended the Inspectorate for its role in eliminating corruption in Uganda and pledged to support the anti-corruption agenda.

This engagement forms part of the Inspectorate’s broader strategy to strengthen partnerships with national, regional and international organizations in building a culture of integrity and accountability.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has revealed that job seekers in Uganda’s local governments paid at least UGX 29 billion in bribes between 2018 and 2022 to secure public service jobs.

The findings were released on Wednesday at Hotel Africana during the launch of a report assessing the cost and extent of corruption in recruitment by District Service Commissions.

According to the report, job applicants were asked for bribes ranging from UGX 3 million for lower-level positions such as nursing assistants and Grade III primary teachers, to as much as UGX 50 million for senior roles like heads of department.

In total, the IG estimated that job seekers were asked for UGX 78 billion in bribes over the five-year period.

The Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government, Mrs. Rose N. Kafeero, said the objective of the study was not only to expose the problem but to mobilize stakeholders to find lasting solutions that will restore public trust and meritocracy in recruitment.

IGG Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe noted that more than 35 percent of public service workers admitted to paying bribes to secure their jobs.

“Some even take out loans to pay these bribes, hoping to recover the money through kickbacks once employed,” she said. She added that the IG’s new strategy includes tracing assets acquired through corrupt practices and recovering them.

District and Cities Chairpersons’ Association head, Rev. James Awanyi, welcomed the report and called for tougher action. “We request a ‘name and shame’ list of corrupt commission members and recognition of incorruptible officials to encourage integrity,” he said.

Brig Gen Henry Isoke, the Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, confirmed that job-selling remains widespread across districts. He urged faster rollout of the e-recruitment system to curb human interference.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, emphasized the need for citizens to report incidents. “Our biggest challenge is that people witness these acts but fail to report them, depriving us of the evidence needed to prosecute,” he said.

From the Ministry of Public Service, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwire, flagged cases where commission minutes were altered to include names of individuals who had not been interviewed. She said automation of recruitment would close such loopholes.

The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, delivering a speech on behalf of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, reiterated government’s commitment to reforms.

She called for automation of recruitment processes to reduce corruption and urged agencies to act on the findings.

The report adds to growing calls for transparency in public service recruitment, with stakeholders agreeing that technology, accountability and civic vigilance are central to restoring fairness in Uganda’s hiring systems.

The President of the Eastern Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA), who is also the Inspector General of Government, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe officially opened a five-day meeting for technical experts from the EAAACA Member Countries in Entebbe, who are developing a five-year Strategic Plan for the Association.

Hon. Kamya called upon the team to develop a Plan that would make a difference in the regional efforts in preventing and combatting corruption. She noted that the performance of most of the member countries in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ratings was below average. This called for strategies and measures that would see the Eastern Africa Region defeating Corruption. She emphasized that corruption remains a major cause of suffering in the region. 

She appreciated the support of SecFin Africa that financed EAAACA to develop the Plan and committed to ensuring that the team would develop a good plan. 

Speaking on behalf of SecFin Africa, Mr Samuel Eduam the Anti-Corruption Advisor for the Eastern Region Hub noted that the fight against corruption was a matter of international concern. He added that their support to Regional Bodies like EAAACA and the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Eastern Africa (ARINEA) is part of a broader effort to eliminate corruption in the region.

EAAACA brings together Anti-Corruption Agencies from eight Eastern Africa Countries, which include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Djibiouti, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi.

H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on 29 July, 2025, held a meeting with the Inspector General of Government, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, and the Deputy Inspectors General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria and Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe at State House, Entebbe.

The meeting focused, among other things, on the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Eastern Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA), scheduled for 20th November 2025 in Kampala.

As President of EAAACA, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe will host H.E. President Museveni as the Chief Guest. The AGM will bring together Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Heads of the Anti-Corruption Agencies under EAAACA recognise President Museveni as a key driver of the East African regional integration agenda.