On August 8, 2024, Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe urged Ugandans to refrain from celebrating government officials involved in corruption. Her comments follow a recent incident where members of the public celebrated the release of MPs charged with budget corruption.
Earlier this week, the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court granted bail to three legislators accused of corruption related to budget mismanagement. The released MPs include Paul Akamba (Busiki County), Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), and Cissy Namujju Dionizza (Woman Representative for Lwengo). Following their release from Luzira prison, some individuals were seen celebrating and chanting the names of the bailed MPs.
During a learning event organized by Enabel in collaboration with the Private Sector Foundation (PSF), Deputy IGG Muhairwe expressed her dismay over the public’s reaction. She stated, “It is disheartening to see the public celebrating the release of corrupt culprits from prison, as these individuals are responsible for perpetuating poverty.”
Muhairwe explained that while the IGG’s office works to sanction corrupt individuals and recover stolen funds, prosecuting such cases often proves challenging due to insufficient evidence or reluctance of victims to come forward. As a result, efforts sometimes focus on recovering stolen assets rather than securing convictions.
According to the IGG’s report, corruption in Uganda is estimated to cost the country around 33 percent of its resources, with losses exceeding Shs10 trillion annually. Globally, corruption results in a loss of 5 percent of the economy each year.
Muhairwe highlighted the secretive nature of corruption, noting that it often involves bribery to secure jobs and widespread corruption in recruitment processes. She pointed out that the private sector is both a victim and a facilitator of corruption, which raises the cost of doing business, diminishes profitability, stifles competition, and breeds inefficiency.
“If we can defeat corruption, we can create a more efficient private sector,” Muhairwe stated.
The learning event was part of the Skills, Attitude, Governance, and Anti-Corruption (SG Plus) project, a four-year initiative aimed at improving Uganda’s business environment through enhanced governance and anti-corruption measures. SG Plus Project Director Ronny Mulongo reported that the project has introduced an e-procurement system managed by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA). This system reduces physical interactions during the bidding process, thereby curbing corruption.
Mulongo explained, “In the past, you had to physically submit your documents, but the e-system has limited such interactions. It has also reduced the cost of stationery for companies, as everything is now done electronically.”
He further noted that lowering data costs would facilitate easier access to the system for businesses, reducing the need for significant data expenses.
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