KAMPALA – The Inspectorate of Government has announced that Uganda will join the global community in marking International Ombuds Day 2026 with a nationwide push for citizen justice, revealing 1,011 cases resolved and UGX 2.3 billion recovered.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The development was announced by the Inspector General of Government, Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, while addressing the press at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Monday, October 5, 2026.
International Ombuds Day (IOD) 2026 is slated to be commemorated on Thursday, October 8, 2026, and will run under the international theme “Ombuds: Office of Options,” complemented by a national campaign slogan.
Justice Aisha Batala noted that the day traces its roots to December 19, 2017, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 72/186 recognizing the Ombudsman as a critical bridge between citizens and the state in upholding administrative justice and human rights.
She confirmed that in Uganda, the Ombudsman role is constitutionally vested in the Inspectorate of Government under Chapter 13 of the Constitution and the Inspectorate of Government Act, Cap. 32.
The IGG emphasized that its Ombudsman mandate is equally critical in promoting the rule of law and natural justice, eliminating abuse of office, resolving complaints of maladministration and delays, and enforcing transparency across Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Local Governments.
“Corruption thrives where administrative rules and procedures are broken or ignored. By executing our Ombudsman function, we close these gaps, thereby reducing corruption and paving the way for efficient public service delivery,” she said.
According to Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, Ombudsman-related matters constituted 37% of all complaints investigated and concluded in the Financial Year 2025/2026, with most arising at the Local Government level.
The most common grievances include delayed or non-payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity; delays in acquiring national IDs, land titles and passports; irregular recruitment; malicious interdiction; and victimization of whistleblowers.
During the 2025/2026 financial year, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) resolved 1,011 Ombudsman cases and recommended the payment of UGX 2,353,472,702 to individuals who had been denied their rightful employment benefits.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Inspectorate of Government will conduct nationwide awareness activities as part of the October commemorations, aimed at bridging the gap between citizens and state institutions.
Uganda currently holds the Presidency of the Africa Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), with Deputy IGG Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe serving as Acting President. The IG is also a member of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).
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