KAMPALA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's anti-corruption watchdog, the Inspectorate of Government, on Tuesday launched a five-year strategic plan aimed at fighting corruption.
Speaking at the launch in the capital, Kampala, Inspector General of Government Naluzze Aisha Batala said the plan is designed to make a significant contribution to addressing corruption and is aligned with national development frameworks, including Uganda Vision 2040, the Tenfold Growth Strategy, and the Fourth National Development Plan.
"The plan is not merely a policy document; it is a bold declaration of intent and a firm institutional commitment to act with independence and precision in the fight against corruption and maladministration," Batala said.
The plan sets a clear direction to strengthen institutional resilience, enforce accountability without fear or favor, restore and sustain public trust in the government systems, and deliver measurable anti-corruption outcomes, Batala added.
Key priorities will include improving corruption perception standing, higher conviction and asset recovery rates, stronger compliance, and enhanced digital, forensic, and investigative capacity toward the realization of a corruption-free Uganda, the official said.
Robert Lugolobi, director of anti-corruption at the Inspectorate of Government, said the plan also seeks to foster active citizen participation in the fight against corruption and maladministration at all levels of governance, and to strengthen mechanisms for prevention and detection of corruption in the public sector.
According to the agency, corruption costs Uganda more than two billion U.S. dollars annually, equivalent to about 23 percent of the government's yearly budget. ■