Officials in the Busoga sub-region have reportedly linked their corrupt actions to their low salaries, as per the discussions conducted by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
Gerald Gwaira, from the Ombudsman’s office, has noted that public servants often cite their insufficient pay as a reason for their involvement in corruption, claiming it affects their ability to perform their duties.
“In our recent workshops on corruption prevention and awareness in Kamuli, Kaliro, and Namutumba districts, we’ve encountered a number of public servants who point to their low salaries as a cause for their corrupt behavior,” Gwaira reported during a session with various leaders in Namutumba District.
However, Gwaira has mentioned that their findings challenge the assumption that low salaries are a direct cause of corruption, as there are cases of misappropriation among those who are well-compensated, possibly due to greed.
The IGG’s office has recognized that it is more constructive to prevent corruption through advocacy and awareness training rather than resorting to arrests.
“The IGG’s office is planning to organize forums in each district of the Busoga sub-region to address the issue of corruption. It is a collective duty of all Ugandans to fight corruption, not just the responsibility of President Museveni and the IGG,” he emphasized.
The IGG estimates that Uganda loses about Shs10 trillion annually to corruption.
Gwaira has warned, “If we do not unite against corruption, the future of Uganda could be at risk,” suggesting that the poverty in the region reflects the unethical conduct of those in positions of trust.
Joseph Mulamuzi, an IGG officer, has indicated that the corruption issue in Uganda goes beyond public servants to include politicians and private individuals who do not return government funds.
He has called out the abuse of Social Assistance Grants and the failure of individual contractors to meet their obligations under government-funded contracts.
Kagere Kauma, the Principal Assistant CAO of Namutumba District, has called for detailed investigations into individuals who do not repay government loans.
Charles Nabanja, the chairperson of Namutumba central market, has requested IGG Betty Kamya to investigate Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) who are allegedly issuing unauthorized legal decisions on land disputes.
