By Mike Rwothomio
The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has conducted a comprehensive community sensitization and stakeholder engagement campaign aimed at combating entrenched corruption in public offices, while disclosing the recovery of Ugx 3.8 million extorted from a job seeker by a technical officer in Zombo District Local Government.
The one-day intensive engagement, held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, began with extensive discussions between IGG officials and Zombo district leaders at the district council hall.
It culminated in a well-attended open community baraza at Paidha Town Council, where hundreds of residents directly questioned their duty bearers on alleged irregularities and abuse of office across various sectors.
Joseph Muramuzi, IGG inspectorate Officer – Advocacy and Capacity Building, kicked off both sessions by sensitizing stakeholders and the public on key anti-corruption laws and policies. He highlighted the main causes and devastating consequences of corruption, referencing the IGG’s findings that 36.6% of corruption complaints originate from local governments, particularly in recruitment exercises.
“There is need for concerted efforts in fighting this deeply rooted vice,” Muramuzi emphasized.He identified major corruption trends including revenue leakages, irregularities in inspection, monitoring and certification processes, as well as land-related malpractices, calling for collective action to address them.
Nicholas Kajura, IGG Regional Officer for Arua, expressed concern over persistent irregularities in Zombo’s recruitment processes, including cases of extortion by public officials.
He disclosed that the IGG successfully handled a 2025 case in which an unnamed Zombo District technical staff member extorted Ugx 3.8 million from a job applicant by falsely promising to influence District Service Commission members to inflate the applicant’s marks.
“We were able to recover the money from the staff. The person was submitted to the District Service Commission for appropriate disciplinary action,” Kajura stated. He issued a stern warning that the IGG would no longer tolerate such acts of abuse of office, urging citizens to continue reporting corruption cases.
LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu raised concerns about delays in handling reported cases and called for streamlined IGG processes to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
Zombo Resident District Commissioner Festus Ayikobua described corruption in the district as intense, citing recent reports of citizens being extorted in exchange for jobs they never received.
He welcomed the intensified national campaign against graft and pledged full support for efforts to uproot corrupt elements.
In a notable revelation, Ayikobua disclosed that during one recruitment exercise, individuals were allegedly brought from Arua to attend interviews in Zombo, after which complaints emerged of extortion via mobile money by staff linked to the District Service Commission. The remarks drew strong reactions from the public.
John Pascal Wapokra, Chairperson of the Zombo District Service Commission, defended the commission, stating that its five members had not demanded bribes.
Wapokra presented a teacher, Esther Obaya, who testified that no bribe was demanded from her during the process.
However, RDC Ayikobua maintained that he possesses evidence of malpractice and urged commission members “to repent,” stressing that entrenched corruption exists within the commission and other sectors.
A member of the public, Pastor Felix Dai, also raised allegations of irregularities against the District Service Commission, calling for thorough investigations.
Christine Lamwaka, IGG Manager for Advocacy and Capacity Building, reminded duty bearers that they hold public offices in trust for the people and are fully accountable.
She noted that the sensitization had empowered citizens on the roles of the IGG and their own responsibilities in the fight against corruption
The IGG’s activities in Zombo come amid heightened national scrutiny on corruption, including ongoing investigations into high-profile public figure , Hon Anita Annet Among, the former speaker of the 11th Parliament.
According to the IGG’s 2024 report, Uganda loses approximately Ugx 9 trillion annually to corruption. The country ranks 148th out of 182 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index with a score of 25/100, well below global and regional averages.
The Inspectorate of Government, established under the 1988 Statute and later enshrined in Chapter 13 of the 1995 Constitution, operates independently with broad powers to investigate, prosecute, and prevent corruption, abuse of authority, and misuse of public resources. It continues to encourage whistleblowing and public reporting to foster a corruption-free Uganda.
Nicholas Kajura, IGG Regional Officer for Arua, expressed concern over persistent irregularities in Zombo’s recruitment processes.
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