The Inspectorate of Government (IG) is expected to be in its own premises in three years’ time.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the 15-storey complex was presided over by the Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija on 18th July, 2019.

The 1.2 acre site is located on Plots 71-75 Yusuf Lule Road and Plots 24-26 Clement Hill.

Hon Kasaija said he was pushing for the quick amendment of the PPDA Act to ensure that unnecessary delays in procurement are suppressed.

The delays usually emanate from the fact that some of the bidders complain or whistleblowers come out to complain about corruption in the process.

This has lagged behind many government projects including the IG building, which was reviewed three times before endorsing the joint venture between Roko construction Ltd and Roko Construction (Rwanda) Ltd.

The Finance Minister was proud to note that the complex, which that will be constructed to the tune of sh70 billion, will be financed 100% by the Government of Uganda.

He also cautioned the youth to desist from the ‘get rich quick’ mentality, saying “Go slow while earning money and earn it legally because if you do not, the truth will come out.”

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, said the tower will have a detention facility for corrupt officials as a measure to improve investigations.

Mulyagonja said the holding cells would help the institution to cut costs of transporting suspects to and from police stations.

“We shall have meeting rooms for investigations and we shall not spend time and resources to move suspects as we wait for court action. We shall also have an exhibit store and a forensic laboratory and a 500-seater-conference hall, among other welfare facilities on the building,” she added.

She revealed that once completed, the complex would save the Inspectorate over Shs2.5 billion that is spent in rent annually.

The Inspectorate of Government on Monday 8th July 2019, arrested KATONGOLE UMAR, the Principal Engineer, Ministry of Works and Transport and SENGENDO HAWAH Alias KAWA S. BITONE, Senior Community Development Officer, Wobulenzi Town Council, Luweero District. They were arraigned at the Anti-Corruption Court, Kololo on Tuesday 9th July 2019 and charged with Illicit Enrichment and Money Laundering. Please refer to the Press Statement below for details:

The Inspectorate of Government has officially handed over the site for the construction of its headquarters to the contractor, a joint venture between Roko Construction Ltd and Roko Construction (Rwanda) Ltd.

The 15-storey masterpiece will be constructed to the tune of close to 70 billion shillings.

The IGG, Ms. Irene Mulyagonja, said the strict procurement process has shown that the Inspectorate of Government is not a corrupt institution.

She however warned that if there were any corruption tendencies by any individual during the procurement process, they will face the long arm of the law.

The IGG urged the contractor and the consultant, Symbion Uganda Ltd, to adhere to the contractual terms and handover the building in three years. She cautioned them against doing shoddy work, saying “this is one of the best designs submitted to government according to Ministry of Finance.”

The Secretary to IG, Mrs. Rose Kafeero, commended the Evaluation Committee for doing an excellent job during the procurement process. She also revealed a Contract Management Team chaired by the Director of Leadership Code, Ms. Annet Twine, which will work closely with the Consultant to manage the contract.

The Managing Director of Roko Construction Ltd, Mr. Mark Koehler, thanked the Inspectorate for putting trust in them and pledged to do a job of the “highest quality.”

He said Roko’s most experienced project and construction managers will be in charge of the project. Mr. Koehler hailed Roko’s achievements in the region, adding that it is a local company with 99.3% Ugandan staff.

Roko was the best evaluated bidder among seven bidders. The other bidders were:

• CRJE (East Africa) Ltd

• China WU Yi Co. Ltd

• Seyani Brothers & Co. (U) Ltd and Parbat Siyani Construction Ltd JV

• China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation

• China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation

• China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd

The ground-breaking ceremony is slated for 18th July, 2019.

The contract to construct the IG Headquarters on Clement Hill Road was given to the Joint Venture of Roko Construction Limited and Roko Construction (Rwanda) Ltd.

Roko was the best evaluated bidder among seven bidders. The other bidders were:

• CRJE (East Africa) Ltd

• China WU Yi Co. Ltd

• Seyani Brothers & Co. (U) Ltd and Parbat Siyani Construction Ltd JV

• China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation

• China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation

• China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, the Secretary to Inspectorate of Government, Mrs Rose N. Kafeero and the Director Legal Affairs, Ms Sarah Birungi signed on behalf of the Inspectorate of Government, while the Managing Director, Mr Mark Koehler and Willie Sware Pod signed on behalf of Roko.

Construction of the multi-billion tower is expected to be completed in three years.

The Inspectorate of Government in collaboration with the Commonwealth hosted the 9th Commonwealth Africa Regional Meeting for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies.

The five-day conference attracted heads of anti-corruption agencies from 19 African states under the Commonwealth.

The Conference under the theme “Preventing Corruption for Sustainable Development in Commonwealth Africa” was officially opened by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa in Kigo.

The Conference provided a unique platform for sharing emerging anti-corruption best practices and country innovations in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance in Commonwealth Africa.

The key aim of the meeting was to enhance south-south learning and the sharing of country, regional and international experiences, by Experts and Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in the Commonwealth Africa.

The meeting climaxed on 10th May, 2019 with the reading of a communique.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, was unveiled as the new Chairperson of the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, deputised by the Chief Ombudsman of Rwanda, Mr. Anastase Murekezi.

The next Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa will be held in Rwanda in 2020.

The Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG), Mr. George Bamugemereire, lauded Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) for the tremendous strides made in service delivery and the fight against corruption.

Mr. Bamugemereire compared the current situation in the bureau to back in the day when it was marred by patronage and disorder.

He however suggested that for URSB to perform even better, illicit businesses and their proprietors should be exposed, there is need for an internal complaints handling mechanism and indeed in all MDAs, public offices should be held in trust for the people among others.

The DIGG was leading a delegation of eight senior Inspectorate of Government (IG) officers for a boardroom session on the invitation of the URSB Registrar General, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze.

Mr. Twebaze for his part said the data that URSB generates complements the IG’s work. He informed the meeting about the number of interventions undertaken by URSB to fight corruption that include a zero tolerance to corruption policy that is adhered to by all staff and anybody found acting otherwise is severely reprimanded, streamlined work processes supported by ICT technologies which enables provision of real time services, periodic internal and systems audits that follow up on work processes to enable adhering to the code of conduct expected of a public office among others.

He concluded by saying that the future for URSB is building a centre for excellent and reliable registration services.

As a way forward, the two agencies pledged to streamline their work methods especially during corruption investigations.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, commended Legal Aid Service Providers’ Network (LASPNET) for making a remarkable contribution in the fight against corruption.

The IGG was launching LASPNET’s Assessment Report on the Implementation of the JLOS Anti-Corruption Strategy 2012 on Wednesday April 17th 2019 at Hotel Africana.

The report was compiled since December 2018 and highlighted progress on domestication of the JACS 2012 by three JLOS institutions: The Judiciary, Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and Uganda Police Force (UPF).

The strategy, which focuses on three pillars of “Prevention; detection of corruption as well as punishing offenders” was developed to reduce corruption in the sector institutions as well as build and strengthen the quality of accountability in the country as a whole.

The IGG noted that the legal and institutional frameworks in the fight against corruption were in place but more inter-institutional coordination is still needed.

She emphasized that improved service delivery should be hinged on efficiency and effectiveness and therefore called on all institutions to have internal strategies to root out corruption before fighting it in other institutions.

She said the politics of the day is not the cause of corruption in Uganda contrary to some peoples’ views.

The LASPNET Executive Director, Ms. Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa, relayed her hope that the Assessment report would be used as an advocacy tool to inform policy and practice change, as well as provide a self-reflection on the progress, gaps and future strategies for effective Implementation of the JLOS Anti-Corruption Strategy and other anti-corruption initiatives towards realizing Access to Justice for all in the country.

The Inspector General of Government, Ms Irene Mulyagonja, presented the Inspectorate of Government Policy Statement for the 2019/20 Financial Year to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, 3rd April, 2019.

Read the full Policy Statement below:

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has received an assortment of equipment and vehicles from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), through its technical advisory facility, Strengthening Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Response (SUGAR-TAF).

The Secretary to IG, Mrs Rose N. Kafeero, expressed her sincere appreciation to the UK government especially SUGAR-TAF for the technical support provided in form of training of IG management and staff among others.

She said SUGAR-TAF has been a strong pillar to the Inspectorate in fulfilment of its anti-corruption mandate, assuring that the equipment will be put to good use.

The Director of SUGAR-TAF, Ms Valentine Namakula, pledged to continue providing more technical support to the Inspectorate.

The function was also graced by Ms Joyce Kokuteta Ngaiza, a Governance Adviser in DFID, as well as technical staff from the IG and SUGAR-TAF.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, has launched the Declaration Period 2019, where leaders are required by law to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the IGG every two years.

While launching the declaration period at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, the IGG said the Inspectorate of Government is to publish the list of public officials who will have declared to enable the public also have their input by providing more information about the property that could have been concealed.

Mulyagonja said the public has always complained that they are not involved in the verification exercise yet they have information about the property that is not declared by the public officials.

“We have been receiving complaints about leaders’ declaration. This time around we shall put up lists of leaders and ask the public what they know about these people,” she stated.

She noted that during the previous declaration period where leaders used the Inspectorate of Government Online Declaration System (IG-ODS) for the first time, a compliance rate of 90.6% was registered. She however warned that there will be no extension of the declaration period beyond the March 31 deadline.

The IGG also revealed that the Inspectorate has cases which are waiting for the Leadership Code Tribunal, which once constituted, will handle cases of officials who under declared their wealth and those who have refused to declare.

“Cases don’t rot. If you commit a crime in 2019, you can still be prosecuted in 2020 because the evidence does not rot,” she warned.

On the same occasion, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, officially launched the IG-ODS update module and Leader Support System.

He thanked the Inspectorate for the initiative, saying the declaration process is now easier and faster.

He said government agencies are in the process of sharing data that will make it hard for leaders to under declare their wealth.