By Spy Uganda
KAMPALA: A whistle blower, who is also a Staff in the Inspector General of Government (IGG)’s office has petitioned Lt.Col.Edith Nakalema, the head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit, demanding an investigation into alleged corruption, illegal and irregular recruitments that they say have marred the ombudsman’s office, which was instituted by law to fight the same vises!
In a March 3, letter addressed to Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, staff members at the Inspectorate of government allege the Inspectorate of Government is being run with impunity, injustice, corruption, and incompetence by the management.
“The environment here at the Inspectorate of government prohibits any staff from addressing their grievances with the system,” the staff, who didn’t want to be named for fear of reprimand noted in letter addressed to Nakalema.
The staff claim that Ms. Rose N. Kafeero, the Secretary to the IG and a few colleagues in the management handpicked, interviewed and are yet to issue appointments to new inspectorate officers without following the normal recruitment procedures set out by Internal Human Resource Policy of 2017 or the Public Service Standing Order, 2010.
“The irregularity in the procedure of recruitment and also the hypocrisy of management to say they have maxed out the wage bill yet so many staff have resigned, others retired and now intend to use funds available to fill the positions yet they could have been used to confirm those who have been in acting capacity for many years or at least issue an internal advert so those who qualify can compete for these confirmations,” reads their statement to Anti-Corruption Unit, begging the Lt. Col Nakalema to halt the ongoing ‘irregular’ recruitments.
Members of the staff now want the agency to be investigated over possible corruption and fraud of public resources including forcing an overhaul of the management, noting that; “the Inspectorate of Government requires a new leadership as soon as possible; in any case, it should have happened yesterday.”
“The current management besides Mariam F. Wangadya, are already operating like they have left and do not care on the issues of the staff,” reads their letter requesting the President through Anti-corruption Unit to sack IGG Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja.
“Allegations of bribery among the IG staff are real; this is because the environment here is that of every man for himself,” the noted telling the Lt. Col. Nakalema that “everything is wrong from formation to work plan for the budget, to procurement of service provider for construction of IG Headquarters, to training of staff, handling complaints and also prosecution.”
Without mentioning names, they noted that staff members are currently receiving bribes of cases not registered from accused persons, bribery going as high as Shs350 million per allegations.
The IG is an independent institution charged with the responsibility of eliminating corruption, abuse of authority and of public office.
The powers as enshrined in the Constitution and IG Act include to; investigate or cause investigation, arrest or cause arrest, prosecute or cause prosecution, make orders and give directions during investigations; access and search – enter and inspect premises or property or search a person or bank account or safe deposit box among others.
