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IGG Aisha Naluzze Batala
By KARIM MUYOBO
Reporter
Monitor
The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has unveiled a new five-year strategic plan that will see the anti-graft body target high-profile officials, fast-track long-pending corruption cases, deploy artificial intelligence tools for asset recovery, and mainstream transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption (TAC) measures across government institutions. The plan, presented in Kampala yesterday, seeks to transform the IGG from a largely reactive, complaint-driven institution into a proactive, intelligence-led agency that leverages digital technology in investigations and prosecutions.
Mr Robert Lugolobi, the chairperson of the Strategic Plan Formulation Committee, said the new strategy will prioritise high-profile and syndicated corruption, enforcement of the Leadership Code, and recovery of mismanaged public assets. He acknowledged that delays in investigations and feedback to complainants have affected public confidence.
“Delays in concluding investigations and providing feedback to complainants have long been a challenge. The Client Charter addresses this by formally committing the IGG to high service standards. Citizens are encouraged to hold us accountable if we fall short,” he added.
According to the IGG, corruption cases more than doubled during the previous strategic period, rising from 1,529 to 2,942. The agency received 10,968 complaints and concluded 4,112 cases over the same period. Asset recovery efforts yielded Shs54.8b out of Shs69.37b recommended for restitution, while Shs22.9b was recommended for recovery from public officials. The IGG also recorded a 90 percent compliance rate among public leaders in declaring income, assets and liabilities, conducted 2,620 verifications, and investigated 950 breaches of the Leadership Code.
“We prosecuted 282 cases under the Corruption Division and Leadership Code Tribunal and issued 1,655 disciplinary sanctions. We aim to increase conviction rates from 51.7 percent to 90 percent, improve asset recovery from 13 percent to 50 percent, enhance compliance with IGG recommendations from 50 percent to 70 percent, and achieve full compliance with income, asset and liability declarations,” Mr Lugolobi said. Despite these gains, Uganda remains ranked 148th on the Corruption Perceptions Index, underscoring persistent governance challenges such as weak internal controls, impunity, inflated public projects and revenue leakages.
The Inspector General of Government, Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, said the new plan marks a shift from complaint-based investigations to intelligence-led and risk-based operations. “AI-driven verification of declarations and analytics of government data will strengthen oversight, while sector-specific research will help identify the root causes of corruption. Our vision is to achieve output-focused, outcome-driven performance across the public service,” Justice Batala said.
She added that manual processes will be replaced with fully digital systems to enable real-time, evidence-based decision-making and strengthen anti-corruption monitoring and evaluation frameworks within govt agencies. The ombudsman also cited delayed court processes as a major obstacle to effective enforcement. Some public officers, she noted, have remained on interdiction for more than five years while continuing to draw salaries, affecting service delivery. To address this, the agency is developing a simplified disciplinary handbook to guide public service leaders in enforcing administrative sanctions more efficiently.
Ms Jane Kyarisiima Mwesiga, the deputy head of Public Service, called for a whole-of-government approach to tackling corruption. “Strategic and operational collaboration is critical to restoring integrity, rebuilding public trust and ensuring timely enforcement of recommendations. We need all agencies to sit together and develop a simplified handbook on the disciplinary process so that offenders are disciplined promptly and order is restored,” Ms Kyarisiima said. She added that the Office of the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet is committed to strengthening collaboration with the IGG and other agencies in the fight against corruption.
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