KAPCHORWA - The Inspectorate of Government (IG) is considering amending the current Leadership Code (Amendment) Act 2021, to make it stronger to effectively investigate and persecute the suspected corrupt officials.
According to the IGG, Betti Kamya, the current law is weak and cannot do much to effectively investigate and apprehend those who steal public funds.
She said they want to include the element of lifestyle audit to easily investigate public officers whose lifestyles do not commensurate with their known sources of income.
A lifestyle audit is an accountability tool that can be used to detect and prevent corruption. These audits are conducted when the visible lifestyle or standard of living of an individual appears to exceed their known income level.
“We want to include in the current menu the element of the lifestyle audit. We shall continue with prosecution, and confiscation of the property but we want to include the strategy of lifestyle audit so that you account for your wealth,” she added.
Kamya made the remarks while officiating at the Anti-Corruption Marathon at Kapchorwa Boma Grounds, organised by the district with support from ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU), Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), Uganda Debt Network (UDN), and Transparency International Uganda (TIU).
The event which was aimed at creating awareness of the effects of corruption is part of the activities to commemorate International Corruption Day, slated to take place on December 9.
Kamya further noted that the current law only requires one to declare their wealth to the IGG every two years.
“Then the IGG verifies to see that it is your wealth but after that, it is weak. What happens? Now we want to make it a stronger law such that people are required to explain and account for their lifestyle which is not commensurate with their know sources of income,” she noted.
The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Betty Kamya (C), chats with Major Juma Sseiko as the Kapchorwa District Chairperson Evelyn Chebet (L) looks on during the Anti-Corruption Marathon at Kapchorwa Boma Grounds on Saturday. (Credit: Jeff Andrew Lule)
She said they also want to further strengthen the law to ensure that the IGG can equally also investigate the wealth for government official's wives and children, stressing that most corrupt officials hide their wealth in assets like Land, Motor vehicles and buildings under the names of their children and relatives which makes it hard to prove that they are owned by them.
Kamya noted that if the law is strengthened with the lifestyle audit, officials will have to explain where and how they acquired the assets.
“And if we find out that the wealth is beyond their income without any clear expiation, they will be answerable,” she said.
She noted that many times government officials engage in corruption but it's not easy to get the evidence that is beyond a reasonable doubt required by judges, thus hindering the progress of the cases.
“The current law requires us to present evidence beyond reasonable doubt that the suspect indeed committed the said offence. It is not easy to prove such cases to the court's satisfaction since the culprits are well-organized criminals who don't always leave any piece of evidence behind. That is why we need this lifestyle audit,” she explained.
“I want to assure Ugandans that when we get them, and we shall get them; they will regret the day they put their hands on people’s money. Let this warning go out that they should start fearing people’s money,” she added.
Kamya (R) hands over a bag to one of the best runners (L) in the Anti-Corruption Marathon at Kapchorwa Boma Grounds on Saturday.
She urged the public to work closely together with her office in the fight against corruption by reporting the suspected corrupt officials because they are the most affected.
According to the TIU, it is estimated that Uganda loses about $1bn due to corruption annually, lost in form of procurement diversions, and diversions of health funds, among others.
The district chairperson, Evelyn Chebet, said corruption is a complicated vice that needs everyone’s involvement and strong laws to apprehend the culprits.
“Fighting corruption is not easy as it seems in talking. The mafias are many and have acquired wealth through illicit means and are ready to deal with whoever comes in their way but some of us are willing to use the little we have to defeat them. We just need your support as the IGG,” she noted.
The TIU executive director, Peter Wandera, said the government needs to come up with new approaches/strategies to deal with corruption since the culprits use sophisticated means to avoid being detected.
Kamya also awarded the best runners with different prizes in various categories.
The event was graced by Joshua Cheptegei and Peruth Chemutai Uganda’s Olympic Gold Medalists and officials from other districts in the Sebei sub-region.
