The Inspector General of Government (Inspectorate of Government (IGG)) has urged the government to urgently finalise and implement the draft Anti-Corruption (Confiscation and Recovery Orders) Rules, 2026, saying the regulations are critical to strengthening Uganda’s framework for recovering assets linked to corruption.
Speaking during the closing session of the National Validation Workshop held at the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) headquarters in Nakasero, IGG Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala said the proposed rules will operationalise Section 73 of the Anti-Corruption Act. She noted that while Uganda has made progress in prosecuting corruption cases, the country still lacks clear procedural guidelines for confiscating and recovering stolen assets. This gap has slowed the recovery of public funds.
Justice Naluzze said the new rules will provide a comprehensive legal framework for courts and enforcement agencies to identify, freeze, confiscate, preserve, and recover proceeds of corruption. “The Rules will provide the long-awaited procedural framework needed to effectively implement confiscation and recovery orders,” she said. She added that stronger asset recovery mechanisms are essential to ensure that individuals convicted of corruption do not continue benefiting from illicit wealth.
Asset recovery has increasingly become a key pillar in Uganda’s anti-corruption efforts as authorities seek not only to prosecute offenders but also to reclaim billions of shillings lost through procurement fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of office. Despite several high-profile prosecutions, recovery of stolen assets has remained limited due to procedural gaps and lengthy court processes, raising concern among anti-corruption advocates who argue that convictions alone are not enough to deter economic crimes.
Justice Naluzze observed that corruption deprives citizens of essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, making asset recovery a crucial tool for restoring public trust in government institutions. She further noted that the proposed regulations will help Uganda comply with international obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which requires states to strengthen systems for tracing, freezing, and confiscating proceeds of corruption.
The IGG emphasized that successful implementation will depend on cooperation among investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary, and other stakeholders in the anti-corruption chain. She called on institutions involved in the validation process to support the speedy conclusion of the draft rules to ensure they are operationalised without delay. Once implemented, the Anti-Corruption (Confiscation and Recovery Orders) Rules, 2026 are expected to strengthen Uganda’s legal and institutional capacity to recover stolen public resources and return them for public benefit-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
