IGG operations limited

The new bills in the constitutional amendments seek to reduce the functions of the Inspector General of Government. Civil society is in arms against the weakening of the institution

The process of amending the Ugandan constitution also includes the Inspectorate General of Government, IGG, that is seen as one of the prime tools for stemming corruption.

More specifically, the functions of the ombudsman is suggested to be removed from the IGG to a special tribunal. The ombudsman tasks include investigating and prosecuting corruption offences and abuse of office, and to supervise the enforcement of the Leadership Code.

The IGG’s Information Officer, Martin Okumu, sees the suggestion as stripping the Inspectorate of Government of the mandate to participate in anti corruption activities fully. For example, the suggested amendment will make it difficult for the IGG to carry out public awareness campaigns as a pro active measure against corruption.

Previously, the IGG has been vital for instance in cases where someone has been employed and the employer refuses to pay his or her salary, cases of arbitrary dismissal or dismissal without according the victim opportunity to present his or her case under the rule of natural justice or denial of pension. All these and other related functions are embedded in the ombudsman mandate which the constitutional amendments bill now is proposing to remove.

In a memorandum on the constitutional amendment bill presented to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, the IGG, Faith Mwondha emphasizes that the bill erodes the core role of the IGG.

The coordinator Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda, ACCU, Geoffrey Rwakabale has called on government not to remove this function, as doing so would be a clear move to dis-empower the office of the IGG.

In his response, President Yoweri Museveni has assured that the institution of the IGG will not be disempowered. The Government’s White Paper on consitutional ammendmnets has expressed a similar position.