The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is currently conducting investigations into more than 5,000 cases of misconduct within government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). These cases were registered during the last financial year, 2022/2023, and are primarily related to employment disputes and non-payment of salaries.
The IGG, Ms. Beti Kamya, spoke about the Inspectorate of Government’s role as an ombudsman, responsible for addressing grievances and complaints from citizens regarding maladministration in government authorities. She emphasized the substantial number of maladministration cases reported within the government during the financial year 2022/2023.
According to statistics from the Inspectorate of Government, employment disputes and non-payment of salaries constituted the majority of the cases, making up over 60% of the total. Local Governments registered most of these cases, with female workers being more affected than their male counterparts.
During the same financial year, the breakdown of cases included 33% related to non-payment of salaries, 23% related to employment disputes, 12% involving abuse of authority, and 7% covering both mismanagement and victimization. Out of the 5,000 cases of mismanagement, the Inspectorate of Government has already investigated and addressed 3,260 cases.
The announcement from the IGG coincides with International Ombuds Day, celebrated under the theme “Raising Citizens’ Awareness of the Ombuds Role for Quality Service Delivery.” Ms. Kamya urged Ugandans to use this day to combat common forms of maladministration, including issues like non-payment of salaries, victimization, misuse of property, late reporting for duty, absenteeism, drunkenness, and indecent dressing.
Ms. Kamya also revealed that the Inspectorate of Government had initiated an investigation into allegations of fraud and abuse of office in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC). This investigation resulted in the removal of the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Ms. Geraldine Ssali, based on Parliament’s recommendation.
The allegations against Ms. Ssali include inflating the cost of ministers’ cars and office renovations, as well as spending Shs400 million to transport documents from the ministry’s offices in Kampala to Entebbe town in Wakiso District. The inquiry into the issues in the Ministry of Trade is currently in its early stages.
