The Office of the Inspector General of Government (IGG) has revealed that only 37% of public office bearers have declared their incomes, assets, and liabilities as required by the Leadership Code Act. The law mandates all public officials to declare their wealth every two years, but compliance remains low, posing a significant challenge to the inspectorate.
This morning, the IGG, Betty Olive Namisango Kamya, and her team declared their incomes and assets to the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, who also submitted her declaration. Speaker Among issued a stern warning to all public servants and Members of Parliament (MPs) to comply with the declaration requirement before the March 31 deadline.
The IGG emphasized that asset tracing remains a challenge due to legal limitations that do not allow for extensions beyond the deadline. The Leadership Code Act requires all leaders to declare their wealth, and failure to comply can lead to dismissal or removal from office.
During the last declaration exercise in 2023, the inspectorate achieved a 90% compliance rate, with 143 officials referred to the Leadership Code Tribunal for further action. Penalties for non-compliance include fines and other sanctions as determined by the tribunal.
The IGG has urged MPs and executives of political parties to utilize the remaining time to complete their declarations and avoid a last-minute rush. She warned that delays could lead to inconveniences and potential legal action.
The declaration exercise is a critical tool for promoting transparency and accountability among public officials. The IGG’s office remains committed to ensuring that all leaders adhere to the Leadership Code Act and uphold the principles of good governance.
