The Inspectorate of Government was initially established by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) statute in 1988. However, with the promulgation of the Uganda Constitution in 1995, the Inspectorate was entrenched under Chapter 13, which outlines its mandate, functions, powers, and other relevant matters. The institution is an independent entity responsible for eliminating corruption, abuse of authority, and misuse of public office. The Constitution and the IG Act grant the Inspectorate powers to investigate, arrest, prosecute, issue orders, conduct searches, and direct actions during investigations. These powers allow it to inspect premises, property, or persons, and access bank accounts or safe deposit boxes, among other measures.
Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution establish the Inspectorate’s jurisdiction and independence, covering public officials and leaders, regardless of their employment status in public service, as well as any institution or organization prescribed by law. The office operates independently in executing its duties and reports directly to Parliament.
The Inspectorate’s mandate focuses on eliminating corruption, promoting the rule of law, and upholding the principles of natural justice in public administration, while enforcing the Leadership Code of Conduct. It aims to foster adherence to legal standards and ensure efficient governance across public institutions. The institution also has the authority to investigate any action, advice, decision, or recommendation made by a public officer or authority in an administrative capacity. Moreover, it engages in raising public awareness about constitutional values and its own activities through various media and outreach methods.
The Inspectorate provides several essential services, including investigating complaints related to service delivery failures, corruption, and injustices. It reviews procedures and systems to identify inefficiencies, verifies declarations of income, assets, and liabilities of leaders and public officers, and conducts public awareness campaigns to garner support in the fight against corruption. Additionally, it inspects government projects to ensure transparency and accountability.
Over the years, the Inspectorate has achieved notable milestones. It has established 16 regional offices to make its services more accessible, which has encouraged the public to report corruption cases and helped reduce case backlogs at the headquarters. The institution has been actively engaging the public and collaborating with stakeholders in anti-corruption efforts, including enforcing the Leadership Code of Conduct, where around 17,500 leaders declare their assets every two years. Its contributions to legislation, such as the Whistle Blowers’ Protection Act and the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009, have strengthened anti-corruption frameworks.
The Inspectorate also participates in international efforts, serving as the focal institution for mutual legal assistance under the United Nations Convention against Corruption and as a member of various global anti-corruption organizations. The development of a Data Tracking Mechanism tool in partnership with the Economic Policy Research Centre and the World Bank has enabled scientific monitoring of corruption trends, with annual reports published to date. Public sensitization efforts have also increased awareness of the Inspectorate’s activities, as evidenced by a rise in public knowledge from 32% in 1998 to 72% in 2008, measured through National Integrity Surveys.