The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe on January 13, 2023 submitted the Inspectorate of Government’s (IG) Budget Framework Paper (BFP) to the Legal and Parliamentary Committee of Parliament of Uganda.

She was flanked by the Deputy IGG Mrs Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe and some of the technical staff of IG including Directors and Managers.

The IGG told legislators that the IG’s proposed allocation in the next Financial Year (FY2023/24) is UGX88.576B.

The allocation will be distributed as follows: Wage UGX27.953B, Non-Wage UGX36.026B and Development UGX24.597B.

The IGG also revealed that the allocations are projected to increase to UGX 90.558 Billion in FY 2024/25, UGX 106.210 Billion FY 2025/26, UGX 138.093 in FY 2026/27 and 138.093 in FY 2027/28.

According to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reports for 2020 and 2021, the corruption indices for Uganda have stagnated. Uganda was ranked 142nd with a score of 27 (with 0 being highly corrupt and 100 highly clean) in 2020, as compared to 2021 where it ranks 144th with the same score, out of 180 countries.

However, the IGG noted that the Inspectorate will continue to focus on preventive measures throughout the Medium Term so as to reduce the cost of corruption especially the indirect corruption hence improving the CPI.

“This will further be accompanied with deterrence approaches namely investigation, prosecution and recovering proceeds of corruption. The IG will rebrand the fight against corruption by empowering and encouraging the citizens to despise and avoid corruption,” she said.

To achieve this year’s targets, the IG will pursue various strategies including grassroot mobilization, engagement with stakeholders, reduce the turnaround time of conducting investigations and improving the visibility of the Ombudsman function.

Others are; prosecution of corruption cases, strengthening the recovery of proceeds of corruption, and enforcement of the Leadership Code of Conduct among others.

The IG will also develop and enforce service delivery standards, enforce compliance to the rules and regulations, review the existing legal, policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks to standardize regulation and benefits in the public service so as to achieve the National Development Plan III strategic objective.

The MPs thanked the IGG for spearheading the fight against corruption and the effort which the Inspectorate is making to recover stolen taxpayers’ money from thieving officials.

But they asked the IGG to not only focus on eliminating corruption but also focus on the core function of the Inspectorate which is ensuring strict adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice.

“We appreciate what you are doing but you seem to be focused more on fighting corruption yet the IG Act clearly stipulates that the core function of the Inspectorate is enforcing rule of law. Where is this reflected in your budget framework?” Bugiri Municipality MP Hon. Asuman Basalirwa asked.

The IGG explained to the MPs that the Inspectorate is committed to enforcing the law, adding that elimination and fighting corruption comes at the tail-end of the IG’s mandate.

Bughendera County MP (Bundibugyo District) Hon. Acrobert Kiiza Moses implored the IGG to pick interest in the payrolls of districts saying that most schools have ghost teachers.