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Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth Oboth has directed that the Inspectorate of Government’s 55th Bi-Annual Performance Report be tabled for debate in the House, pledging parliamentary backing to recruit staff for 168 vacant positions, increase operational funding, and plug legal loopholes hindering the fight against graft.

Mr Oboth issued the directives on Monday after receiving the January–June 2026 report from Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, who led a delegation of senior anti-corruption officials to Parliament.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Oboth described graft as a highly organized enterprise and warned that corrupt individuals are continuously refining their tactics to evade detection.

“Corruption is not done in the forest. It is among us. It is also an industry, internationally known, and those in it are learning how to steal without being caught,” Mr Oboth warned.

To bolster the agency’s operational capacity, the Speaker committed to supporting training initiatives, filling critical staff shortages, and amending weak legislation.

“The law is not static,” Mr Oboth noted, adding that he had instructed the Clerk to Parliament, Mr Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, to ensure parliamentary recommendations from previous oversight reports are formally submitted to the Inspectorate for implementation. He also appealed to Parliament’s Budget Committee to prioritize additional funding for the agency.

The performance report highlights key milestones achieved by the watchdog between January and June 2026. According to the document, investigations into financial impropriety led to orders for the recovery of approximately Shs41.6 billion, out of which Shs5.7 billion has already been recovered in cash and assets. The agency further recommended Shs1.5 billion in compensation to victims of administrative injustice through its Ombudsman division.

On legal enforcement, the Inspectorate secured 26 convictions out of 29 cases prosecuted before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court and the Leadership Code Tribunal, translating to an 89.7 percent conviction rate. Under the Leadership Code, 241,230 out of 302,800 registered public officers declared their income, assets, and liabilities during the April 2026 exercise, reflecting an 80 percent compliance rate.

However, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi voiced sharp concerns over the outcome of high-profile corruption investigations, demanding to know why several publicized arrests do not progress to trial.

“Arresting suspects without subsequent legal action risks turning anti-corruption operations into showbiz,” Mr Ssenyonyi cautioned.

He further challenged the criteria used in deciding which individuals face prosecution, observing that the apparent selective prosecution of suspects leaves the public distrustful of the justice system.

“The inconsistencies in how suspects are handled are confusing to the public and undermine confidence in the fight against graft,” Mr Ssenyonyi said, calling for absolute transparency, consistent prosecutorial decisions, and rigorous follow-up on reported cases.

In her remarks, Lady Justice Batala expressed gratitude to Parliament for passing enabling legislation but stressed that persistent resource constraints handicap the agency’s outreach.

“We appreciate the ongoing legislative support, but there is an urgent need for increased funding, recruitment, and retention of specialized personnel to execute our mandate,” Lady Justice Batala stated.

She pledged that the Inspectorate would intensify asset tracing and recovery, enforce the Leadership Code strictly, and enhance monitoring of key government developmental projects.

During the event, Lady Justice Batala also launched and presented the Inspectorate’s Strategic Plan for 2025/26–2029/30, its Client Charter, and various public information materials to the Speaker.

Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twino reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to resolving administrative grievances, noting that the Ombudsman division remains vital in fostering administrative justice across public institutions.

“Our Ombudsman function offers a essential avenue for citizens to seek redress against administrative injustice and public sector maladministration,” Ms Twino emphasized.

The high-level engagement coincided with activities commemorating International Ombuds Day, observed globally under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options.” The meeting was attended by accountability committee leaders, members of Parliament, and senior Inspectorate officials.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis