Public servants in Lira to declare wealth

Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the Inspector General of Government, Beti Kamya, warned public servants against falsification of facts, under-declaration, over-declaration, and anticipatory declarations among other unlawful acts.

She said such acts shall attract sanctions under the law which include fines, demotion, dismissal from work, confiscation of illicitly acquired assets, and being barred from holding a public office for up to ten years.

Leaders are by law required to declare their wealth. The exercise will be launched by Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa.

The office of the Inspectorate of Government has for long wanted to implement the lifestyle audit.

Under the lifestyle audit, the Inspectorate shall, based on officers' declarations, compare their official earnings and their investments to see if they are in tandem.

Kamya said that for an official who earns sh2m to have huge investments, they should be able to explain the source of the money. Failure to do so, Kamya said the property of such officials shall be confiscated and sold to recover Government funds.

It should be noted that President Yoweri Museveni cautioned Kamya on the strategy, saying she should go slow as it could scare the corrupt officials from investing the stolen funds in the country and instead take it abroad.

The public has often blamed the Inspectorate for hunting down low-ranking government officials (small fish) engaged in less costly corruption tendencies yet there are top government officials often referred to as big fish who are corrupt and cause massive loss to the country.