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.

The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, on 11^th July, 2025, launched the Integrity Ambassadors Club at St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK).

She applauded the school’s administration led by Bro. Simon Mpanga for implementing the initiatives which she proposed during her visit in 2023.

She noted that SMACK was not just one of Uganda's top-tier secondary schools but also a beacon of excellence, discipline and leadership, with a legacy that speaks for itself both in academic results and the caliber of men it sends out into the world.

”You are torch bearers of a new generation - driven by energy, innovation and a strong sense of justice. Bold, intelligent and unafraid to demand better. With your zeal, creativity and courage, you can set a new standard, one where integrity defines leadership and corruption has no place," she remarked.

An integrity club seeks to instill ethical leadership by encouraging accountability, transparency and honesty within schools and the broader community.

Over 150 students were commissioned as ambassadors committed to fighting corruption by pledging to live and lead with honesty and courage.

The Deputy IGG stressed that corruption begins with everyday choices, not just in government offices, and urged the students to speak the truth even when unpopular and to proudly wear their integrity badges as symbols of their commitment. 

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, has called on Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Uganda’s commercial banks to actively collaborate with the Inspectorate of Government (IG) in the fight against corruption.

Speaking during the monthly meeting of Bank CEOs held in Kampala, Hon. Kamya emphasized that corruption spares no one, but its impact on the banking and financial sector is particularly profound. She urged the CEOs to raise red flags on suspicious transactions and to expose corruption incidences.

The IGG informed the bankers that the Inspectorate had already engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including public officials, Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organisations, and the media among others, to enlist their support to expose the corrupt..

She further invited the CEOs to share innovative ideas and proposals that would strengthen the partnership between the banking industry and the IG for more effective anti-corruption efforts.

In response, Mr. Julius Kakeeto, the Chairperson of Uganda Bankers Association and CEO of Pos tBank Uganda, commended the Inspectorate’s efforts in combating corruption. He pledged the association’s support and committed to working closely with the IG to develop structured modalities for collaboration.

The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, on 3^rd July, 2025, revealed that she would take action against the City Clerk of Jinja City, Mr. Edward Lwanga over diversion of funds.

Mrs. Muhairwe made the revelation during a spot-check to assess the level of progress on the construction of Uganda Railways Seed Secondary School.

Mr. Lwanga allegedly diverted UGX 950M out of UGX 1Billion, to the Southern Division to among others pay allowance arrears for councillors, and  spend on other unrelated activities without accountability or even authorisation from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development  as required by the law.

The money had been remitted by the gov’t to pay Kiru General Services, the contractor constructing Uganda Railways Seed Secondary School.

“Mr. Lwanga must answer for the diversion of the funds and breaching the trust placed in him by the people and the government,” she said.

Mr. Lwanga said that he diverted the money to save it from court bailiffs who had threatened to attach the City’s account over unpaid pension arrears.

The Commissioner of Parliament, Hon. Esther Afoyochan has committed to supporting the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to mobilize civil servants to join the fight against corruption and stop being used by supervisors and politicians to commit fraud. She informed the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, that she had fallen victim to systemic corruption during her tenure in the local government. She vowed to advocate for local government staff to report all incidences of corruption, particularly where the ‘big fish’ use the ‘small fish’ to defraud government, and they end up being investigated and arrested.

The Commissioner made the pledge when she represented the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, to receive the IG Bi-annual Report to Parliament for the period July to December 2024.  This is in fulfilment of Article 231(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. Commissioner Esther Afoyochan appreciated the IG for fulfilling the constitutional requirement timely. She added that this made it possible to have the report tabled before Parliament.

While presenting the report, the IGG, Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, appreciated Parliament for the support to the IG. She called on Parliament to increase budgetary allocation to the institution in order to fulfil its mandate more effectively and efficiently. The IGG further highlighted the performance for the period as follows: 

(i) 1,209 investigations concluded

(ii) UGX 8.04 billion ordered for recovery

(iii) UGX 4.13 billion recovered in cash and assets

(iv) Administrative action taken against 600 errant public officials in MDAs and Local Governments

(v) 324 breaches of the Leadership Code addressed

(vi) UGX 4.84 billion recommended for compensation due to IG interventions

(vii) UGX 1.5 billion paid to individuals following IG ombudsman interventions

The Deputy IGG, Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, has called upon members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Media to strengthen their collaboration with the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to curb corruption in Uganda.

She made the call during a consultative meeting with CSOs and the Media as part of the broader consultation being conducted to inform the development of the IG five year Strategic Plan 25/26 – 29/30.

Dr. Okiria noted that the CSOs and the Media had played a critical role in the work of the IG and their contribution to the next five year Strategic Plan was essential. 

The representative of the CSOs appreciated the IG for recognizing them as a critical player in the fight against corruption in Uganda and committed to supporting the IG to build a robust framework to fight corruption through the Strategic Plan.

The IG is currently consulting various stakeholders as a process of developing the next five year Strategic Plan.

The Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, Her Excellency, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, declared her Income, Assets and Liabilities to the Inspectorate of Government (IG).

This was during an engagement with the team from the IG led by the Deputy IGG, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, at the Office of the President on Tuesday.

H.E Alupo commended the IG’s innovative Online Declaration System (IG-ODS), saying that it is efficient. She urged other leaders to declare to IG as required by law.

The declaration of Incomes, Assets and Liabilities started on March 1, 2025 and shall end on March 31, 2025.

The Leadership Code Act requires Leaders and Public Officers to declare their Incomes, Assets and Liabilities to the IG.

This year 2025, only leaders specified under the second schedule of the Leadership Code Act, will submit their declarations.

A leader who breaches the Code shall be investigated by the IG and prosecuted before the Leadership Code Tribunal.

The Deputy IGG was accompanied by the Director Leadership Code, Mr. Joram Magezi, Manager Strategic Partnerships and Public Relations, Hajjat Munira Ali, Supervisor IT, Mr. Noel Munaaba and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Amos Ngwomoya.

On March 3, 2025, the Chief Justice of Uganda, Hon. Alfonse Owiny Dollo, officially launched the Declaration of Income, Assets, and Liabilities period for leaders. The event, held at the Supreme Court’s conference hall, was conducted under the theme "Enhanced Accountability through Wealth Declaration."

Under the Leadership Code Act, leaders and public officers are required to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities to the Inspectorate of Government (IG). For 2025, only leaders specified under the Second Schedule of the Leadership Code Act are mandated to submit their declarations within the period from March 1 to March 31, 2025.

In his address, Hon. Dollo expressed concern over the rising levels of corruption in Uganda, attributing it to a decline in moral values. He pointed out that some individuals have amassed unexplained wealth at the expense of the majority, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in leadership. He also challenged Ugandans to stop glorifying corruption, noting that the fight against the vice requires both individual and collective responsibility.

"We cannot accuse the IG of failing to eliminate corruption while we remain passive. Fighting corruption is a duty for all of us. If we truly want to end it, we must rise up and say no to corruption," he said.

The Chief Justice welcomed the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe’s new initiative to investigate ownership of high-rise apartments and luxurious properties in the city, stating that public officials must be able to justify the sources of their wealth. He reiterated that declaration of income, assets and liabilities is a legal obligation that promotes honesty and trust among leaders and public officers.

On the issue of funding, Hon. Dollo called on Parliament to increase the IG’s budget to enhance its ability to educate citizens on the dangers of corruption and effectively carry out its mandate. He also pledged the Judiciary’s support in the fight against corruption.

The State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Akello Rose Lilly, commended the Inspectorate of Government (IG) for its relentless efforts in combating corruption. She emphasized that leaders must embrace the declaration process as a key safeguard against corruption.

"I urge all leaders to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities. This process builds confidence that leaders are acting with integrity. Failure to comply will have consequences, and the government remains committed to supporting the IG in its mission," she said.

In her remarks, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, urged leaders to comply with the declaration requirement and ensure transparency. She also encouraged citizens to hold their leaders accountable by questioning the source of their wealth, especially when they acquire multi-billion properties.

"We have received intelligence reports indicating that many of the high-rise apartments in the city suburbs are owned by public servants. We are determined to investigate and ensure that these individuals can explain how they acquired these properties," she stated.

Hon. Kamya also acknowledged that syndicated corruption remains a challenge, but she expressed confidence that it can be dismantled if all stakeholders join the fight. She urged all Ugandans to actively participate in fostering a culture of accountability and integrity to safeguard the nation’s future.