Junior workers at the Office Inspectorate of Government have written to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, crying of corruption, impunity and maladministration taking place at the office that is supposed to fight corruption in public offices, saying that the institution requires a new leadership at the helm.
A group of disgruntled staff at IGG on March 3, 2019 wrote to the Head of the Anti-Corruption Unit Lt Col. Edith Nakalema, calling on her office to intervene and save the situation at the IGG’s office.
“We write in good faith, and pray that your good office shall take action on that matter,” the letter reads in part.
While seeking confidentiality, the whistle-blower in the petition pleads with Col Nakalema who is the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to reign on Irene Mulyagonja’s office citing among others rampant cases of corruption where officers are openly receiving bribes from accused persons.
“Allegations of bribery among IG staff are real, this is because the environment here at IG is that every man for himself. Everything is wrong from formation of the work plan for the budget, to procurement of service provider for construction of IG headquarters, to training of staff, to handling complaints and also prosecution,” the letter reads in part.
“Without mentioning names, some staff are currently receiving bribes of cases not registered from the accused persons, bribes going as high as Shs350,000,000 per allegation. That is partly why the IG is not performing.”
The junior staff accuse top managers at the Inspectorate for taking long to confirm their colleagues who were posted to upcountry as Regional Inspectorate Officers or Principal Inspectorate Officers in various regional offices such as Fort Portal, Gulu, Lira, Arua, Moyo, Tororo and Hoima. The officers, according to the petitioners were posted about three years ago on the promise that they would be confirmed in six months but this has not happened.
“After one year of serving in this positions, the officers requested to be confirmed, however, they were told that the institution had maxed out the wage bill, so confirmations could not be made,” the petitioners say in their letter, adding that bosses at the IGG office have further angered their colleagues by insisting that since they were mere “caretakers” they cannot be confirmed in those positions. The petitioners argue that the answer is not convincing since the officers are being paid Acting allowances and have stayed in those positions for more than 12 months.
They quote the Public Service Standing Orders 2010 (A-c) part 9, which says: An appointment on acting basis is expected to last not more than six months, and is subject to direction by the Appointing Authority. Any period of acting appointment beyond six months will be null and void and the officer holding such an appointment shall automatically revert to his or her substantive post, unless the Appointing Authority extends the appointment of another period of six months, but shall not exceed 12 months in total. This arrangement will only apply when a statutory office is temporarily vacated.”
During the 2018 State of the Nation Address, President Yoweri Museveni hit at IGG Mulyagonja’s office for failing to fight corruption and subsequently, named a new three man’s committee headed by James Tweheyo to handle corruption related cases.
“What happened to the IGG? Why don’t the victims of corruption report those incidents to the office of the IGG? That was the purpose of that office; to protect the public from corrupt officials; to protect the investors against corrupt officials. The IGG should reflect on this. Are her staff credible? Why does the public not trust that institution? We need answers,” Museveni said.
