The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has called for the adoption of Kiswahili in public institutions as part of efforts to strengthen ethical leadership and curb corruption in Uganda.
The IGG says the widely spoken East African language can help promote shared values of integrity, accountability and unity in public service.
Speaking at the unveiling of the 3rd edition of the Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari, Deputy Inspector General of Government Dr Patricia Achan Okiria said Uganda’s corruption problem is partly rooted in the erosion of moral and ethical values.
She said restoring integrity in governance requires both institutional reform and a cultural shift anchored in public ethics.
‘To achieve meaningful development, we must be decisively able to confront corruption. In Uganda, corruption is happening because of the degeneration of values of integrity and accountability,’ she said.
Dr Okiria also urged leaders to embrace governance principles associated with Tanzania’s founding president Julius Nyerere, including honesty, humility and servant leadership.
Corruption remains one of Uganda’s most persistent governance challenges, with the IGG estimating that the country loses about Shs10 trillion annually through bribery, embezzlement, procurement fraud and abuse of office.
Dr Ronex Kisembo Tendo, secretary general of the African Academy of Languages Kiswahili Commission, also backed regional integration, saying Uganda’s economy depends heavily on trade with Kenya and Tanzania.
He questioned Uganda’s continued reliance on English despite Kiswahili being widely used across East Africa.
Mr Kisembo said Uganda has been selected to host the headquarters of the African Union Kiswahili Commission, describing it as a continental initiative aimed at promoting linguistic unity.
On June 9, he said preparations are ongoing with government agencies to secure office space for the institution.
Efforts to establish Kiswahili as one of Uganda’s national languages have in the past faced delays despite repeated policy discussions.
Pilgrimage itinerary
The Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage in October will include visits to key historical and political sites across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The programme includes stops at Dr Apollo Milton Obote’s home in Akokoro, Uganda’s Parliament, and Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, before proceeding to Kenya and Tanzania.
Pilgrims will visit Butiama, the ancestral home of Tanzania’s founding president Julius Nyerere, and Jomo Kenyatta’s gravesite in Nairobi.
The cross-border tour will feature commemorative activities and cultural visits linked to East Africa’s independence history.