Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye issued a stark warning about the rising tide of impunity within the public service, attributing it to a lack of transparency.

Speaking at the commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, Nakyobe lamented the growing indiscipline among public servants and its negative impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the service.

She emphasized that the decline in professionalism and competence is directly linked to the absence of transparency and the blatant disregard for accountability. “There’s impunity,” Nakyobe declared, underscoring the pervasiveness of the issue. “Ugandans are losing faith in the government because of this,”

She further stressed that this erosion of professionalism and competence not only hampers service delivery but also erodes public trust in government institutions.
“We need a public service that is responsive, efficient, and accountable,” Nakyobe stated.

Echoing her concerns, John Mukabire, Chairperson of the Association of District Service Commissions, called for holding accountable those high-ranking officials involved in corrupt practices.

“Tackling corruption within the public service requires going beyond the small fish and holding accountable the ‘big fish’ who are often the masterminds behind these schemes,” Mukabire emphasized.