Uganda today marked the African Anti-Corruption Day 2025, a continent-wide effort to raise awareness and reinforce commitment to combating corruption. The event, held at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, was themed "Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight against Corruption," reflecting the importance of integrity and respect for human rights in tackling this pervasive challenge.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Betty Kamya Namisango, lauded Ugandans for their growing involvement in anti-corruption initiatives. "Your active participation has significantly strengthened government efforts to deliver essential social services and foster transparency," she stated during her address to the media.

Corruption remains a deep-seated issue across Africa, undermining development and threatening stability. It manifests through bribery, embezzlement, and state capture. The African Union estimates that over $140 billion is lost annually to corruption—an amount equivalent to the GDP of all but five African countries.

Betty Kamya underscored that this year’s theme serves as a vital call to uphold human dignity and protect vulnerable populations in all anti-corruption actions. She presented statistics from the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which ranked Uganda at 140 out of 180 countries, with a CPI score of 26/100—indicating high perceived corruption.

Despite this, she announced that Ugandan authorities investigated 2,218 corruption cases in 2024, resulting in administrative sanctions against 1,204 officials and the recovery of UGX 6.8 billion in cash and assets.

President Yoweri Museveni, who has been outspoken against corruption, continues to champion transparency and accountability. Kamya emphasized that fighting corruption is a shared responsibility in Uganda, especially with a youthful population driving the country's rapid growth.

While challenges remain, Uganda’s persistent efforts and active citizen engagement demonstrate progress in the fight against corruption. The day’s commemoration serves as a reminder that safeguarding human dignity requires ongoing commitment from all sectors of society.