IGG ROLLS OUT INCOMES AND ASSETS DECLARATION CAMAPIGN TO ADJUMANI

By Bazio Doreen.

The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has intensified enforcement of the Leadership Code in Adjumani District, calling on all public officers from the salary scale of U4 downwards to comply with the statutory requirement of declaring assets, income, and liabilities within the stipulated deadline.

During an official engagement with civil servants, the Inspectorate emphasized that asset declaration is not optional but a legal obligation under the Leadership Code Act, aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service. This intervention forms part of the Government’s broader national anti-corruption strategy.

The Director of Leadership Code, Joram Magezi, cautioned that only officers registered on the declaration system will be able to submit their returns, warning that non-compliance constitutes an offence under the law.

“Any public officer who has not registered will not be able to declare their assets, and failure to comply will attract penalties as provided by the law. We urge all civil servants to act before the deadline,” he said.

According to district administrative records, out of 1,363 public officers expected to declare their assets in Adjumani, only 416 had complied, representing a compliance rate of 30.5%. This falls significantly below national expectations, where the Inspectorate has consistently targeted higher compliance levels across Ministries, Departments, and Local Governments. The low turnout in Adjumani reflects broader national challenges in enforcement and compliance, particularly at local government level.

While speaking to Civil servants in Adjumani at the district council hall on Thursday 16th April 2026, the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Patricia Achan Okiria, reaffirmed that asset declaration is a mandatory requirement and must be undertaken with honesty and accuracy.

“Public officers must declare truthfully and fully. This process is meant to build public trust and ensure accountability,” she said.

Local leadership aligned with the national directive. The Adjumani District Secretary for Finance, Adrupio Irene Appi, urged civil servants to embrace integrity beyond compliance, while the Principal Chief Administrative Officer, Edema Richard, reaffirmed the district’s commitment to ensuring all staff meet the legal requirement within the prescribed timeframe.

At the national level, the asset declaration exercise is a key tool in combating corruption, which remains a significant governance challenge in Uganda. According to Transparency International, Uganda scored 25 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking among the lower-performing countries globally, indicating persistent public sector corruption concerns .

Further, national data indicates that Uganda loses an estimated UGX 9–10 trillion annually to corruption—equivalent to nearly 23% of the national budget and up to 44% of domestic revenue—highlighting the scale of the problem and its impact on service delivery .

Public perception surveys also show growing concern, with about 66% of Ugandans reporting that corruption has increased, and a majority indicating widespread corruption among public institutions, including civil service structures . These trends underscore the importance of compliance mechanisms such as asset declaration in strengthening oversight and detecting illicit enrichment.

Comparatively, while some central government institutions have registered improved enforcement outcomes—including prosecution of over 100 corruption cases and disciplinary action against public officials in recent years—compliance gaps at district level remain a concern . The situation in Adjumani therefore reflects a broader national pattern where local government entities often lag behind in meeting governance and accountability benchmarks.

The Inspectorate reiterated that asset declaration is a critical preventive measure in the fight against corruption, enabling early detection of unexplained wealth and reinforcing public confidence in government institutions. As the deadline of 30th April 2026 approaches, all public officers in Adjumani District are urged to finalize their declarations, with authorities warning that enforcement measures will be applied to ensure full compliance.

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