Daniel Mugula
Monday 5th October 2026
KAMPALA — Ombudsman-related complaints accounted for about 37 per cent of all cases investigated and concluded by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) during the 2025/26 financial year, highlighting the scale of administrative injustices affecting citizens across Uganda.
Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala-IGG
Inspector General of Government (IGG) Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala made the revelation on Monday while briefing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre ahead of the 2026 International Ombudsman Day, which Uganda will commemorate on Thursday, October 8.
She said the majority of complaints arise at the local government level, where citizens interact directly with public services.
The most common grievances include delays in salaries, pensions and gratuities, non-payment of employment benefits, irregular calculation of entitlements, delays in obtaining national identity cards, passports and land titles, as well as difficulties accessing government payroll services.
The Inspectorate also handles complaints involving irregular recruitment, malicious interdictions, workplace victimisation and retaliation against whistleblowers.
Ms Anne Muhairwe D/IGG
According to Justice Naluzze, the Inspectorate resolved 1,306 Ombudsman cases across central and local government institutions during the 2025/26 financial year.
The IG also recommended payment of Shs2.35 billion to individuals whose employment benefits had been unlawfully withheld or delayed.
She said the Ombudsman function is critical to ensuring that citizens receive fair treatment and effective public services without having to resort to lengthy and costly court processes.
“The Ombudsman is not just an office of last resort, but an office of possibilities,” Justice Naluzze said, describing this year’s international theme as “Ombuds, Office of Options.”
The theme is being promoted in Uganda under the national campaign slogan “Talk to the Ombudsman.”
Justice Naluzze said the Ombudsman mandate of the Inspectorate is constitutionally grounded in Chapter 13 of the Constitution and operationalised through the Inspectorate of Government Act.
Although the IG is widely associated with fighting corruption, she said the Ombudsman function specifically empowers the institution to promote adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice in public administration.
The mandate also covers abuse of authority and public resources, maladministration, delays in service delivery and workplace injustices.
She said effective implementation of the Ombudsman mandate helps close administrative gaps through which corruption can thrive.
“Corruption thrives where administrative rules and procedures are broken or ignored,” she said.
Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Muhairwe said the Inspectorate has recovered Shs41.9 billion under its Ombudsman mandate.
She clarified that the figure relates to money recovered or recommended for recovery from irregular payments, including salaries and other public funds paid to individuals who were not entitled to them, and should not be confused with recoveries made through the IG’s separate anti-corruption mandate.
Muhairwe also urged the public and the media to support the fight against corruption by providing credible information to investigators.
She said investigations are often frustrated when complainants refuse to provide names, documents or other details necessary to substantiate allegations.
“We cannot act on rumours,” Muhairwe said, stressing that the Inspectorate must follow due process and operate within the confines of the law.
She said the fight against corruption cannot be left to the Inspectorate alone and called for cooperation among citizens, journalists, government institutions and other anti-corruption agencies.
Muhairwe said the Inspectorate supports recent government efforts to intensify the fight against corruption but cautioned that all enforcement actions must comply with the law.
She said the IG follows established procedures that involve collecting information, conducting investigations and, where evidence is sufficient, making arrests and taking suspects to court.
“We are the custodians of the law. We must do things in accordance with strict adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice,” she said.
She also welcomed efforts to address corruption in District Service Commissions, particularly allegations of bribery in public recruitment.
NDA investigation ongoing
Director of Ombudsman Affairs Kakooza Sario Ntensibe confirmed that the Inspectorate is investigating the National Drug Authority (NDA), but said details would only be released after the investigation is completed.
He said the IG was still gathering evidence and would not disclose the identities of persons under investigation prematurely.
“It is true we are investigating the National Drug Authority. When the right time comes, we will come and give the information,” Ntensibe said.
He said recent amendments to legislation had also helped address some legal challenges that had previously affected the operations of the NDA.
As part of the 2026 Ombudsman Day activities, the Inspectorate will conduct a nationwide public awareness campaign through television and radio talk shows, social media campaigns and publicising success stories of citizens whose complaints were resolved.
All 16 regional offices of the Inspectorate will also conduct community Ombudsman clinics and outreach programmes where citizens can present complaints and receive assistance.
The activities are intended to bridge the gap between citizens and government institutions and increase public awareness of the complaints that can be handled by the Ombudsman.
International Ombudsman Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October. The global observance traces its origins to UN General Assembly Resolution 72/186, adopted on December 19, 2017, which recognised the importance of Ombudsman and mediator institutions in promoting good governance, administrative justice and human rights.
In Uganda, the Ombudsman function is vested in the Inspectorate of Government, which serves as a link between citizens and public institutions.
