By Our reporter.
President Yoweri Museveni has advised the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Beti Olive Kamya, to be careful with the planned lifestyle audit, a new anti-corruption tool that seeks to apprehend corrupt government officials..
He said despite endorsing Ms Kamya’s anti-corruption strategy, the system can easily force corrupt officials who have stolen government money to hide it abroad thereby complicating the fight against corruption.
Mr Museveni said: “The lifestyle audit against corruption is good but needs care as it can force corrupt officials to hide money abroad. We are still lucky that our corrupt people are investing money in Uganda.”
He said:” “The IGG should use performance audit to monitor public resources and implementation of government programmes,”.
The Ugandan leader was responding to a presentation of the IGG on her proposed lifestyle audit approach in the fight against corruption on a ceremony to mark international Anti-Corruption Day at Kololo Independence Grounds.
Mr Museveni, who has assured Ugandans on his zero tolerance to corruption, called on the IGG to expeditiously investigate corrupt government officials, carry out audits on government projects to ascertain how money was spent.
President Museveni wondered why the anti-corruption government agencies are not working with local council officials and ordinary people in the fight when they are the real victims of corruption.
He said:” Ms Kamya’s new strategy of involving the grassroot people is good instead of operating with only anti-corruption governance agencies.”
The event was commemorated under the theme“ Promoting active citizen participation in social accountability”, where IGG launched her accountability Lifestyle audit that she will use in monitoring, ascertaining wealth acquisition and prevention of corruption.
IGG Ms Betty Kamya said one of the challenges they encounter is that most dubious corruption undertakings thrive underground which is sometimes difficult to prove in courts of law.
She said more often officials implicated in corruption – related cases get acquitted and in most cases with costs against government at a time when the public demands prosecution of corrupt top officials.
But this time the IGG said the onus will be on a corruption suspect to prove beyond reasonable doubt before court that wealth one acquired while in public office is commensurate with established known income.
She also told the President that under her new strategy she would recruit ordinary Ugandans in the crusade against corruption using civic education in the communities and mindset change.
“Under my new strategy i shall recruit ordinary Ugandans in the crusade against corruption using civic education in the communities and mindset change,” She said.
According to the IGG latest statistics the ombudsman has over 5,000 ongoing cases of corruption reported by whistleblowers all valued at Ushs 500b.
The IGG’s office is reinforced by the State House Anti – corruption unit headed by Col Edith Nakalema.
Uganda constitution under chapter 13 mandates the IGG to eliminate corruption, abuse of authority and of public office, with authority to investigate or cause investigation, arrest or cause arrest, prosecute or cause prosecution, including making orders and giving directions during investigations■
