85% of District Government Jobs Secured Through Bribery – IGG Kamya

Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya has exposed alarming levels of corruption in Uganda’s public service, revealing that 85% of government jobs at the district level are acquired through bribery rather than merit.

Kamya shared these findings on Tuesday during a media discussion with non-state actors in Kampala. Citing a scientific study conducted by her office across more than 20 districts, she disclosed that only 15% of district civil servants were recruited based on qualifications.

The investigation, conducted last year, uncovered that many individuals who secured jobs through bribery lacked the necessary academic credentials, with some presenting forged documents obtained from Nasser Road—an area notorious for producing fake certificates.

“This means that those who pay bribes to get government jobs are often unqualified because they submit fake academic documents,” Kamya stated.

She further warned that the prevalence of corruption in recruitment has forced many genuinely qualified professionals to seek employment abroad, worsening Uganda’s skilled workforce shortage.

According to Kamya, the infiltration of unqualified personnel into public service is directly affecting service delivery across the country.

“The study revealed that competent individuals are being sidelined in favor of those who pay their way in, which is negatively impacting service delivery,” she noted.

Kamya also shed light on the growing issue of syndicate corruption, where officials work together to cover up fraudulent activities, making it difficult to hold culprits accountable.

“Syndicate corruption involves multiple players protecting one another, which complicates investigations. It has become a cancer in the public sector,” she explained.

The IGG urged Ugandans to come forward with evidence of bribery in government offices, emphasizing that failing to report corruption makes individuals complicit in the crime.

“If you are a victim of corruption and do not report it, you are also an accomplice,” she warned.

Kamya also highlighted the link between corruption and substandard public projects, pointing out that financial mismanagement, stretching from the Ministry of Finance to Parliament and Chief Accounting Officers, often results in poor-quality infrastructure.

“Contractors, constrained by limited funds, frequently use substandard materials, leading to shoddy work and poor service delivery,” she added.
Leveraging Public Engagement to Fight Corruption

To tackle these issues, Kamya called on the public to monitor civil servants’ wealth and report any suspicious accumulation of assets. She encouraged citizens to use social media to expose corrupt officials and assist in holding them accountable.

The government, she noted, is working closely with non-state actors such as professional boards, associations, and councils to enhance grassroots efforts in combating corruption.

“This engagement aims to strengthen collaboration with the government and reinforce the fight against corruption,” Kamya stated.

Her remarks come as the Ugandan government faces mounting pressure to improve service delivery and address corruption, particularly amid high unemployment. Uganda’s public service currently employs approximately 470,000 people, according to President Museveni.