The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, has exposed widespread corruption in Uganda’s public service, revealing that a staggering 85% of government jobs at the district level are secured through bribery. This practice has severely undermined merit-based recruitment and contributed to inefficiency in public service delivery.
Kamya disclosed these findings on Tuesday during a media engagement with non-state actors in Kampala. Citing a scientific study conducted by the IGG’s office across more than 20 districts, she stated that only 15% of district civil servants were employed based on merit.
Fake Academic Documents and Unqualified Workers
The research, conducted last year, uncovered that many individuals who secured government jobs through bribery lacked the required qualifications, with a significant number submitting forged academic documents from Nasser Road, a known hub for fake certificates.
“This means that those who bribe to get government jobs do not qualify because they have fake academic documents,” Kamya said. She noted that the growing trend is pushing skilled and qualified Ugandans to seek employment opportunities abroad, worsening the shortage of competent personnel in the public sector.
Impact on Service Delivery
Kamya warned that the prevalence of bribery in recruitment has negatively affected service delivery. “The research indicated that those with genuine qualifications are not getting employed, and this is impacting service delivery across the country,” she stated.
Beyond bribery, Kamya also raised concerns about syndicate corruption in government institutions. “Syndicate corruption involves multiple players covering up for each other, making it difficult for investigators to gather evidence,” she explained, calling the situation a “cancer” that continues to spread within the public sector.
Call for Public Action Against Corruption
The IGG urged Ugandans to take an active role in the fight against corruption by reporting cases of bribery in government institutions. She emphasized that failing to report corruption makes individuals complicit in the crime. “If you become a victim of corruption and do not report it, you are also an accomplice,” she asserted.
She also pointed out that corruption in the Ministry of Finance, Parliament, Chief Accounting Officers, and contractors is contributing to substandard public works. “Due to limited funds, contractors often use poor-quality materials, especially in infrastructure projects, leading to shoddy work and poor service delivery,” Kamya added.
Using Social Media to Fight Corruption
To combat these issues, Kamya encouraged the public to monitor civil servants’ assets and report any suspicious wealth. She suggested using social media to share information about officials and their properties to assist the IGG’s office in tracking corruption.
The IGG also emphasized the government’s collaboration with non-state actors, including professional associations, boards, and councils, to tackle corruption at the grassroots level. “The engagement with non-state actors aims to strengthen their cooperation with the government and support anti-corruption efforts,” she explained.
Kamya’s revelations come at a time when the Ugandan government faces mounting pressure to improve public service delivery and address corruption amid rising unemployment.
