Ombudsman cases account for 37 percent of IG complaints
KAMPALA, October 5, 2026 — Administrative injustices, including delayed salaries and pensions, poor service delivery and workplace victimisation, accounted for 37 percent of all complaints investigated and concluded by the Inspectorate of Government [IG] in the 2025/2026 financial year.
According to the Inspector General of Government [IGG], Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, the complaints largely originated from local governments, where citizens have direct contact with public services.
While addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday, she most common grievances included delayed or non-payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, irregular calculations of employment benefits, and delays in accessing essential government services such as national identity cards, land titles, passports and the payroll.
Citizens also reported irregular recruitment processes, malicious interdictions and victimisation of whistleblowers by their superiors, according to the IG.
The Inspectorate said it resolved 1,011 Ombudsman cases during the financial year, resulting in recommendations for the payment of Shs 2.35 billion to people who had been denied their rightful employment benefits.
The figures were released as Uganda prepared to join the rest of the world in commemorating International Ombuds Day on Thursday, October 8, under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options.”
The IGG said its Ombudsman function is intended to provide citizens with an alternative avenue for resolving grievances against public institutions without having to resort to lengthy and costly court processes.
“Corruption thrives where administrative rules and procedures are broken or ignored,” she said, adding that addressing administrative failures could help reduce corruption and improve public service delivery.
In Uganda, the Ombudsman mandate is vested in the Inspectorate of Government under Chapter 13 of the 1995 Constitution and operationalised through the Inspectorate of Government Act.
The mandate includes promoting adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice in public administration, addressing abuse of authority and public resources, resolving complaints of maladministration and delays in service delivery, and promoting transparency and accountability across government institutions.
The IG said this year’s commemoration would focus on making the Ombudsman more accessible to citizens under the campaign slogan #TalkToTheOmbudsman.
The Inspectorate will conduct a nationwide media awareness campaign throughout October, including television and radio talk shows and social media campaigns highlighting cases in which administrative injustices were addressed.
The second week of October has also been designated Ombuds Action Week, during which all 16 IG regional offices will conduct community-level clinics and outreaches to receive and, where possible, resolve complaints.
The outreaches will involve the Judicial Service Commission, National Identification and Registration Authority, Uganda Police Force and local government officials, including Resident District Commissioners, chief administrative officers and district chairpersons.
IG regional teams will also conduct spot checks on public service delivery points alongside local leaders to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of government services.
The Inspectorate is further scheduled to hold a high-level dialogue with the Speaker of Parliament to seek support for the implementation of Ombudsman recommendations and increase awareness of the function.
The IG urged citizens experiencing workplace injustice, delayed employment benefits or administrative neglect to lodge complaints with the Ombudsman.
Uganda currently holds the presidency of the Africa Ombudsman and Mediators Association, with Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe serving as acting president.
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