The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Olive Namisango Kamya has called on Ugandans to lead a people-driven revolt against corruption, warning that Uganda’s future hangs in the balance unless citizens rise up to demand accountability.
Speaking at the Africa Anti-Corruption Day commemoration held at the Uganda Media Centre on Friday, July 11, 2025, Kamya described 2025 as a ‘turning point’ in the country’s fight against graft and corruption.
She urged Ugandans against cultural glorification of quick wealth and instead question the sudden riches of public officials.
“When a public officer becomes wealthy overnight, they are glorified as ‘mzee’ or ‘kopo’, and when such people are arrested, their communities flood the courts in solidarity and threaten to withdraw political support,” Kamya stated.
The IGG revealed that Uganda loses up to Shs 10 trillion annually to corruption , a sum she said could significantly change the country’s development trajectory if properly utilized.
“If Uganda could save that 10 trillion and divide it among the 10,000 parishes under the Parish Development Model (PDM), each parish would get 1 billion shillings a year,” Kamya noted.
“That would mean every Ugandan could effectively receive 2 million shillings annually.” she added.
She highlighted the need for public vigilance and collective action in the anti-corruption drive, emphasizing that the Inspectorate is shifting focus to community-based efforts.
Kamya also revealed that her office had opened 16 regional offices to better serve and engage citizens at grassroots level.
In 2024, the IGG’s office concluded 2,218 corruption investigations. As a result, 1,204 public officers faced disciplinary or administrative action, and more than Shs 7 billion was recovered. Sixteen officials were recommended for prosecution, while 37 were referred to the Leadership Code Tribunal.
Kamya said, currently holds the presidency of the East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities and is working to strengthen regional cooperation in asset recovery and law enforcement.
“We are taking the war to the people. We’re mobilizing Ugandans to take ownership of this fight because the best wars are always people’ wars,” she said.
According to the IGG, despite these gains, Uganda continues to perform poorly on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), scoring just 27%. In contrast, Rwanda and Botswana scored 57%, while Seychelles leads the region with 72%.
Kamya urged citizens to emulate Rwanda and Botswana by rejecting corruption and upholding integrity.
She urged Ugandans to stop rallying behind corrupt officials and instead question the source of their wealth, saying that true oversight lies in demanding accountability.
