Opposition Leader, Honorable Joel Ssenyonyi, has taken a decisive step by officially urging the Office of the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to launch a comprehensive investigation into alleged cases of corruption within the Ugandan Parliament.
Over the past few weeks, concerns have been raised in various media outlets regarding purported instances of corruption, misuse of power, and administrative irregularities involving government officials in the Ugandan Parliament. These concerns have spurred calls for a thorough examination of the institution’s operations.
In a formal communication delivered to the IGG’s office on March 20, 2024, Honorable Ssenyonyi, citing Sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the IGG Act, called upon the Inspectorate to conduct a diligent and impartial inquiry into these allegations.
Expressing the gravity of the situation, Ssenyonyi emphasized the necessity of upholding the integrity of governmental institutions, stressing that any claims of corruption must be investigated promptly and effectively.
This initiative marks the Opposition Leader’s second endeavor to address these issues, the first being his plea to Speaker Anita Among during a recent plenary session. However, his concerns were disregarded, with the allegations being dismissed as unfounded social media rumors.
In his letter to the IGG, Ssenyonyi outlined various allegations against the Parliament’s administration, including financial malpractice, abuse of parliamentary privileges for personal gain, questionable awards of service accolades, irregular recruitment processes, and dubious contract awards.
He emphasized the importance of conducting a transparent investigation with the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders, including the Speaker, the Clerk, Members of Parliament, government officials, and anyone implicated in the allegations.
Furthermore, Ssenyonyi stressed the need for the investigation to demonstrate to the public that justice will be served without bias, regardless of individuals’ positions or status.
While the Inspectorate had initially indicated its intent to investigate these claims, it later suspended its probe, citing ongoing investigations by the Auditor General’s office. However, Ssenyonyi remains steadfast in his call for an independent inquiry by the IGG.
Chris Obore, the head of the Communication and Public Affairs department, commended Ssenyonyi’s efforts to involve the IGG but cautioned against disregarding the findings of both the IGG and the Auditor General once their investigations are concluded.
He emphasized the importance of respecting the legal mandates of investigative bodies and expressed optimism that the truth behind the allegations would be uncovered through these official channels.