Public organisations are either wasting or abusing resources and costing the government 44 percent of its total revenue, says a new report by ombudsman Beti Kamya.
The report, which covers the periods of July to December 2023, and January to June 2024, calculates that Shs9.144 trillion has slipped through the cracks in the public purse.
Leakages are most noticeable via the loss of environmental resources (Shs2.28 trillion), loss of education hours to students (Shs1.46 trillion) and corruption in contract royalties (Shs859.2b). Just as disturbing is the cost of bribing judges (Shs762.90b) and the cost of corruption in procurement (Shs614.41b).
“Corruption remains a big challenge and continues to undermine development in Uganda. It constrains citizen’s access to basic vital public services,” the report, which puts environmental pollution or degradation at Shs536.79b and the loss of government salaries paid despite absence in the health sector at Shs495.1b, reads in part.
The report reveals that 1,657 complainants turned to the ombudsman service between January and June 2024. The ombudsman says the Inspectorate of Government (IG) could do with more support to help it improve the complaints system and to help public organisations to resolve complaints better.
