Masindi residents demand accountability reports from Inspectorate of Government
He further accused the Inspectorate of failing to resolve concerns raised by residents.
Masindi: Residents of Masindi District have called on the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to release reports from previous anti-corruption community engagements, commonly known as Barazas, saying they have never received feedback on concerns raised during the forums.
The residents made the demand on Tuesday during the Anti-Corruption Caravan held at Booma Grounds in Masindi Town.
According to the residents, several Barazas have been conducted in the district over the years, including the most recent one in 2023 led by former Inspector General of Government Betty Kamya, but no comprehensive report has been presented on the issues raised.
Wahid Babyesiza Juma, the district councillor for Labongo Sub-county, said residents are increasingly frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of follow-up on corruption complaints submitted to the Inspectorate.
“The Inspectorate of Government has held several Barazas in Masindi, but the issues raised by residents have never been adequately addressed. Instead, it appears that the institution engages more with the accused individuals than with the complainants,” Babyesiza said.
Babyesiza revealed that in 2024 he reported an alleged embezzlement of funds meant for the construction of Labongo Sub-county headquarters, but says he has never received any feedback from the Inspectorate regarding the matter.
“Since I reported the case, I have not received any communication from the Inspectorate. The contractor keeps telling me that he met officials from the IG and that nothing can be done. This raises concerns about transparency in the investigation process,” he said.
He further accused the Inspectorate of failing to resolve concerns raised by residents.
“The IG has left the people of Masindi divided in the name of carrying out anti-corruption campaigns. They come here to demand accountability, but many of our concerns remain unaddressed,” he alleged.
Irumba Haruna Ismail, a resident of Kijura South Cell, criticized the Inspectorate for taking too long to conclude investigations into corruption-related cases.
He cited the case of bitumen that was reportedly intended for refugee projects in Kiryandongo District but was recovered at Masindi Municipal Council headquarters more than a decade ago.
“Some cases take years without being concluded. The issue of the missing bitumen has remained unresolved for over ten years, yet residents continue waiting for answers,” Ismail said.
Lawrence Ziiwa, a resident of Kijura Central Cell, said many residents expected the Inspectorate to provide a report on issues raised during the 2023 Baraza.
“We expected the team to present a report on the concerns that were raised when Betty Kamya came to Masindi in 2023. Unfortunately, no report has been released, and people are beginning to lose trust in the Inspectorate,” Ziiwa noted.
Another resident, Shamim Kasemire, questioned the Inspectorate’s commitment to accountability. “The Inspectorate talks about accountability, but our concerns are not investigated and we rarely receive feedback. That makes people doubt whether action is being taken,” Kasemire said.
Salama Kugonza, the Board Chairperson of RDP Uganda, said many citizens have lost hope in the fight against corruption because reported cases often remain unresolved.
“Corruption continues to undermine service delivery, yet many people feel their complaints are ignored. I urge citizens not to lose hope but to continue reporting corruption and providing evidence so that together we can eliminate this vice from our communities,” Kugonza said.
Responding to the concerns, Christine Lamwaka, the Manager for Advocacy and Capacity Building at the Inspectorate of Government, acknowledged the need for improved communication and feedback between the institution and complainants.
“We have taken note of the concerns raised by residents. The Inspectorate will strengthen its feedback mechanisms and remain in touch with complainants regarding both written submissions and issues raised verbally during the Anti-Corruption Caravan,” Lamwaka said.
She assured residents that the Inspectorate remains committed to investigating corruption allegations and improving engagement with communities.
The Anti-Corruption Caravan is part of the Inspectorate of Government’s ongoing efforts to mobilize citizens in the fight against corruption and promote transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.
