District leaders and accountability institutions in western Uganda have launched an integrity promotion forum aimed at strengthening transparency, tackling corruption and improving public service delivery.
The 23-member forum, unveiled on Thursday in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, brings together key government and civil society actors to address accountability concerns through a coordinated local mechanism.
Members include the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), district chairperson, Chief Magistrate, Resident State Attorney, officials from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the Auditor General’s office, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and civil society organisations.
Speaking at the launch, Dunstan Balaba, Permanent Secretary in the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity under the Office of the President, said strengthening grassroots accountability was critical in the fight against corruption.
“Government sends money to the grassroots for poverty eradication but there are many questions about how it is handled. For example, under the Parish Development Model, some beneficiaries who are supposed to receive Shs1 million end up getting less. Many fear reporting such cases or do not know the reporting mechanisms. We hope this forum will bridge that gap,” Balaba said.
Bushenyi Resident District Commissioner Emmy Ngambirano said the initiative would enhance community participation in promoting transparency and ethical governance.
“Our goal is to review ethical issues, corruption, transparency and accountability across all sectors, deterring corruption at the local level before cases escalate to other agencies. We are based here and understand the issues affecting our communities. If a matter cannot be resolved by this committee, it will be forwarded to the relevant investigative authorities,” Ngambirano said.
District chairperson Prosper Twebaze welcomed the forum, saying corruption allegations had increasingly damaged the district’s public image.
“There have been integrity concerns in our district that have painted a negative image. With this forum, many issues can be addressed internally before they escalate. Some arise from misunderstandings and internal disagreements,” Twebaze said.
Lee Kakonge, chairperson of the Western Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), said the new platform would provide a structured avenue for addressing accountability concerns.
“True, there have been challenges relating to integrity and accountability, but there was no harmonised forum to address them. Corruption issues have often been politicised in this district. With the political will now demonstrated, service delivery is likely to improve,” Kakonge said.
Officials said the forum is expected to serve as an early warning and response mechanism for corruption-related complaints, while promoting ethical leadership and accountability in public institutions.