Reports say that the delayed appointment of a substantive Inspector General of Government-IGG is affecting the work of the Inspectorate of Government-IG.
It should be remembered that the office of the IGG fell vacant on July 5, 2020 following the expiry of the contract of Justice Irene Mulyagonja after serving for eight years.
She was immediately appointed to the Court of Appeal. However, no replacement has been made leaving the Inspectorate of Government without a substantive IGG.
Apparently, the Deputy IGG, George Bamugemereire, says they cannot fully execute their mandate in the absence of a substantive IGG.
He told URN in an interview that after a careful study of the law they have established that there are certain things they can’t do in the absence of the IGG. The function, mandate and authority of the IG are provided for in Chapter 13 of the Constitution.
The IG is mandated with the responsibility of eliminating corruption, abuse of authority and of public office through investigating or causing investigation, arrest or cause arrest, prosecution, issuing orders and directions during investigations, inspect premises or property among others.
The Constitution provides that the IG shall comprise of the IGG and two Deputies appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament. It also states that one of the appointees shall be a person qualified to be appointed a judge of the High Court.
What could possibly be wrong? Why would the President take all these months without appointing a new IGG?
Two answers come to mind, politics and corruption. The President and other parliamentarians are focused on campaigning in a bid to retain their positions which has also led to the increase of corruption in the last few months.
Without a fully fledged and functioning body like the IG, everyone could go free for corruption and abuse of power.