The government has raised concern over the continued refusal by thousands of civil servants to declare their wealth and assets, warning that the trend undermines efforts to fight corruption and promote accountability.
More than 20,000 civil servants failed to comply with the Leadership Code between 2024 and 2025, according to the Inspectorate of Government.
Speaking at the launch of the April 2026 declaration period and the user guide to the Leadership Code Act (Cap 33) in Kampala, the minister of Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, described the situation as worrying.
Muruli said asset declaration is a key tool in promoting integrity among public officials.
“It is critical for civil servants to declare their wealth. This is one way of demonstrating integrity and accountability. We must be honest with ourselves as public servants and take the lead in fighting corruption,” he said.
He added that Uganda loses an estimated Shs10 trillion annually to corruption, citing data from the Inspectorate of Government.
He also noted that public trust in civil servants remains low, with only 47 per cent of citizens expressing confidence in public institutions.
He warned that failure to comply with the Leadership Code is a breach of the law and government standing orders.
“You should not fear anyone laughing at your house or the small property you own. Do what is required of you,” he said.
The minister of state for Ethics and Integrity, Rose Lilly Akello, said Uganda has made progress since the introduction of the Leadership Code Act, noting that the majority of public officials comply with the requirement.
She said those who fail to declare their assets lack integrity but still have an opportunity to change.
“I must say those who refuse to declare their wealth are people with no integrity. However, the progress made so far shows that compliance is improving,” she said.
The chairperson of the Leadership Code Tribunal, Roselyn Karugonja Ssegawa, said non-compliant officials face disciplinary action.
She said penalties include demotion, fines, dismissal from public service and formal warnings.
