24, 000 public officials expected to declare their wealth to the IGG

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has reminded all concerned political and appointed leaders to declare their incomes, assets, and liabilities to the office of the Inspectorate of Government.

According to the IGG, Beti Kamya Turwomwe, the exercise which is conducted every after two years in the month of March will be carried out using the IG-Online Declaration System (ODS).

The ODS will be opened on 1st March 2023 and closed on 31st March 2023. Kamya said they will be extensions after the deadline. 

“Articles 233 (2) and 234 of the constitution of Uganda and section 4 of the leadership Code Act require political leaders and appointed leaders, specified under the second schedule Part A and the Third Schedule Part A and Part B of the leadership Code Act, 2002 Amended in 2021 to declare to the inspectorate of government their incomes, assets, and liabilities every two years in the month of March,” she said.

Kamya further highlighted that any leader who will not have declared their property by 31^st March 2023 will be in violation, especially under sanctions of the law which include non-declaration, under declaration, over the declaration, falsification of facts and anticipatory declaration of income assets and liabilities.

Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the deputy IGG, noted that the purpose of the exercise is to promote accountability and the principle of public trust since the constitution provides that all public offices are held in trust for the people.

“If we are to demonstrate good governance, the tendencies of good governance require that leaders are transparent, accountable, and declaring public assets and resources as well as liabilities to the IGG office, is one of those responsibilities,” she noted.

Statistics from the IGG’s office indicate that in the last two years, 31 cases were sent to the leadership court tribunal – out of these, 10 were convicted and fined while others were cautioned. 

The director in charge of the leadership court in the office of IGG, Joram Magezi, explained that about 25,000 public officers were expected to declare their property during this exercise, however, the number was reduced to 24,000 following the amendment of the law.

“The law lifted the level of leaders of UPDF from second lieutenant to major, so now second lieutenant, lieutenant and captain are no longer considered as leaders and will not declare.

Therefore the figure lowered and the same applied to police where they raised the level to ASP, starting form ASP above are all leaders, whereas those below were dropped,” he added. 

It should be noted that on June 8^th 2021, former Ethics and Integrity Minister, the late Rev Father Simon Lokodo, revealed that 4, 000 government officials had refused to declare their wealth to the Inspector General of Government.

He made the remarks during a validation workshop to discuss the rules of procedure, for the created Leadership Code Tribunal in the same year.