The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, has revealed that as Uganda intensifies efforts to raise UGX 48 Trillion to run the Financial Year 2022/23, leeches are also waiting to steal the money for their individual benefits.
Addressing a joint press conference held at the Uganda Media Center on Wednesday, Kamya referred to the corrupt as leeches (parasitic or predatory worms) who are failing government programs.
A recent survey commissioned by the Inspectorate of Government in 2021 revealed that Uganda could be losing up to UGX 20 Trillion per year to corruption out of which UGX 10 Trillion is directly from taxes i.e. through under-declaration of taxes and utility user fees, corruption in the procurement of government goods and services, inflation of the public payroll, ghost workers on Public Service payroll, shoddy works, buying and selling of air by government, sale of government property like drugs, fuel, mismanagement of all government resources, etc.
She noted that corruption is now at the core of Uganda’s social and economic problems, attributing it to some of the recent failures in some government programs.
Kamya called for a collaborative effort to stop the leeches by being open-eyed and reporting all cases of corruption for prevention, investigation, prosecution and recovery of stolen funds.
The IGG also announced plans to roll out a robust plan to deal with corruption.
Part of this will be an Inter-Denominational prayer against corruption led by the First Lady of Uganda also minister for Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, this Friday 29, 2022.
“The First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports who is also the National Champion for Ambassadors for Integrity, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni will be the Guest of Honour,” she said.
She said as a God-fearing Nation, they have agreed to place God at the center of the war against corruption in the FY 2022/23.
Kamya rallied all Ugandans to join in this National Prayer, “to cry out to God to protect the UGX 48 Trillion we expect to raise this year from thieves, to Bless all the activities and plans of Government for the FY 2022/23 and to Bless the plans of the Inspectorate of Government and all Gov’t and non Governmental actors in their various efforts to fight corruption.”