KAMPALA-The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has named Kampala district as the top most corrupt district in the country.
In a report titled; “Bi-annual Inspectorate of Government Performance” between July and December 2017, submitted to Parliament last week, the IGG also ranked the most accused ministries, agencies, departments, and local governments in the period under review.
Like the January to June 2017 report; Kampala topped districts in corruption with 262 cases coming from officials taking bribes.
IGG Justice Irene Mulyagonja, in her latest report also names abuse of office and theft of government funds and assets as top cases her office investigated between July and December 2017.
According to the report, Kampala tops 10 districts in corruption cases followed by Lira (52), Jinja (43), Arua (29), Kabarole (28) Kamuli (28), Iganga (27), Mbale (27), Mukono (27) and Tororo (27).
“Out of a backlog of 4,620 cases from the previous reporting period, the office investigated 6,019 cases between July and December last year of which 1,399 were completed,” reads the IGG report in part.
Dr Patrick Wakida, the executive director-research World international described the report as timely but added most of the big cases require urgent attention to save the country.
“We should not get excited about the report findings but rather we should look at how many of the cases have been prosecuted, how many big fish are in jail over corruption scandals because many of them are walking free, let us walk the talk if we are to fight corruption,” said Dr Wakida.
Mr Jack Wamai Wamanga, the MP Mbale municipality said the report is a good gesture that some institutions are in to fight corruption but are failed by the lack of government will.
He said there are many loopholes existing in the system that pave way for those walking the corridors of power to become corrupt overnight and pass on their ‘tricks’ to others.
“The awarding of contracts for instance, and the taking of kickbacks is a real avenue for corruption and it is difficult to find the person giving the bribe but you can find an agent taking the bribe which complicates the fight against corruption,” said Mr Wamanga.
The Bi-annual Inspectorate of Government Performance report says further that a total of 312 cases were referred to other agencies for further handling whereas 4,817 cases were still under investigation by the end of the reporting period in December last year.
The report says that the institution received 1,399 new cases received in the period under review and that of these abuse of office topped with 284 cases, followed by corruption (187), embezzlement (107), misappropriation (99), forgery (79) and audit queries (54).
The report adds that influence peddling was the least reported case with only one complaint, followed by causing financial loss, and extortions with 12 complaints each.
The report notes that there were 108 mismanagement cases, 172 of non-payment, 45 of victimisation, 36 of property disputes, 28 of delayed service delivery, 20 related to tenders and contracts, and nine of irregular staff recruitment.
Regarding enforcing the Leadership Code Act, the IGG said she is investigating one case of illicit enrichment.
Those arrested
The report says that key among those who were arrested and charged in the Anti-Corruption Court include three senior officials in the Ministry of Local Government namely; Mr Wilberforce Turyahabwa the principal systems analyst, Mr Patrick Mutabwire, the director of Local Government Administration and Mr Jackson Wamwa, a senior analyst.
Mr Turyahabwa was arrested for alleged embezzlement, Mr Mutabwire for alleged diversion of funds and abuse of office while Mr Wamwa was accused of conspiracy to defraud the government.
Others are Ms Madinah Nabukeera, the registrar of titles in the Ministry of Lands, who was arrested on charges of abuse of office, Mr Wilberforce Turyahikayo, a senior assistant registrar of Kaymbogo University, Mr George Lubega Matovu, the national resource manager in National Environment Management Authority and Mr Phillip Kyahurwa, a senior assistant town clerk of Hoima Municipal Council.
Convictions
According to the report, the IGG secured 11 convictions and punishments handed to corrupt officials by the Anti-Corruption Court.
Some of the convicts were sentenced to jail whereas others were ordered to refund the money they had stolen.
“These prosecutions resulted into 11 convictions (73.3% conviction rate), two acquittals, one withdrawal and two dismissed,” the IGG states in the report.
Cases under prosecution
By December 31, 2017, the IGG was still prosecuting 53 corruption related-cases in the Anti-Corruption Court and 36 in the Court of Appeal.
Key among the cases that were in court by end of year was that of former Works and Transport Minister, Mr Abraham Byandala who has since been acquitted of abuse of office, causing financial loss, theft, influence peddling, disobedience of lawful orders, corruption, uttering false documents and obtaining execution of a security by false presence. All the charges were in relation to the controversial Mukono-Katosi road construction.
The report further states that the IGG raised more than Shs15b, especially from court fines, awards, orders and recovered Shs267m from officials in government ministries, departments and agencies and Local Governments through administrative sanctions and the money was returned to the Consolidated Fund account.
