By Spy Uganda
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Uganda’s efforts to eliminate corruption, describing the fight against the vice as a shared responsibility critical to the country’s economic transformation.
The Deputy Head of SH-ACU, Mr. Israel Ochwo, made the remarks during an appearance on NBS Television’s #NBSMorningBreeze programme, where he discussed the state of Uganda’s anti-corruption efforts and the Unit’s role in supporting government’s broader accountability agenda.
Ochwo noted that corruption remains one of the biggest barriers to Uganda’s development, stressing that fighting the vice is both an honour and a responsibility for SH-ACU.
“Corruption undermines service delivery, slows economic growth and affects the country’s transformation agenda. Our responsibility is to work tirelessly with all stakeholders to ensure that public resources are protected,” Ochwo said.
He explained that SH-ACU operates through collaboration with other anti-corruption institutions and does not compete with them, noting that the Unit complements agencies including the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), and other stakeholders through joint investigations, intelligence sharing and referrals.
Since its establishment in 2018, SH-ACU has made significant progress in supporting the prosecution of corruption-related cases. Ochwo revealed that the Unit has facilitated the arraignment of 946 suspects before courts of law, leading to 160 convictions, while continuing to pursue cases involving senior public officials.
He dismissed claims that the Unit only focuses on low-level offenders, saying SH-ACU has handled investigations involving officials from various government institutions, including the Office of the Prime Minister, Local Governments and other ministries.
“The fight against corruption must be fair and comprehensive. We target cases based on evidence and public interest, regardless of the position or status of the individuals involved,” he said.
On ongoing investigations, including allegations involving Parliament, Ochwo said responsible institutions are handling the matters and cautioned against making public comments on cases that are still under investigation.
Regarding recovery of assets linked to corruption, he explained that while SH-ACU does not have a standalone asset recovery mandate, it works closely with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions’ Asset Recovery Unit and other relevant agencies to ensure that proceeds obtained through corruption are recovered.
Ochwo also highlighted the importance of cooperation among anti-corruption agencies through the Inter-Agency Forum chaired by the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, saying the platform has strengthened coordination, improved information sharing and reduced duplication of investigations.
Beyond investigations and prosecutions, he said government’s push towards digital transformation has provided new tools in the fight against corruption through electronic government systems that promote transparency, accountability and easier tracking of public funds.
He emphasized that digital reforms are helping close loopholes that have traditionally enabled misuse of government resources.
Ochwo concluded by reaffirming SH-ACU’s commitment to pursuing corruption cases with the greatest public impact, in line with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s call for “Kisanja: No More Sleep, No More Corruption, and No More Tolerance for Non-Performance.”
He said the Unit will continue working with all stakeholders to protect public resources and support Uganda’s journey towards greater accountability and sustainable development.
