The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has called on Ugandans facing administrative injustice, delayed government services and workplace grievances to seek help from the Ombudsman rather than allowing their complaints to remain unresolved.
The call comes as Uganda prepares to join the rest of the world in commemorating International Ombuds Day on October 8, 2026, under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options.”
The Inspectorate says the Ombudsman should not be viewed only as an office of last resort, but as an accessible avenue through which citizens can seek fair and practical solutions to problems involving government institutions.
According to the IG, Ombudsman-related matters accounted for 37 percent of all complaints investigated and concluded by the Inspectorate during the 2025/2026 financial year.
The majority of the complaints arise at local government level, where citizens have direct contact with public services.
Among the most common complaints are delayed or unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities; delays in accessing national identity cards, land titles and passports; irregular recruitment processes; malicious interdictions; and victimisation of whistleblowers.
The Inspectorate says it resolved 1,011 Ombudsman cases across central and local government institutions during the financial year.
Its interventions also resulted in Shs2.35 billion being recommended for payment to individuals who had been denied their rightful employment benefits.
The IG says these figures demonstrate the importance of the Ombudsman function in improving public administration and protecting citizens from unfair treatment.
Ombudsman role goes beyond corruption
Although the Inspectorate is widely known for its work against corruption, its constitutional mandate as Uganda's Ombudsman gives it a broader responsibility in promoting fairness and accountability in public administration.
The mandate includes promoting adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice, addressing abuse of authority and office, resolving complaints relating to maladministration and delays in service delivery, and promoting transparency and accountability across government institutions.
The Inspectorate says poor administration can also create an environment in which corruption thrives.
“By executing our Ombudsman function, we close these gaps, thereby reducing corruption and paving the way for efficient public service delivery,” the Inspectorate said.
The global Ombuds Day observance is rooted in a 2017 United Nations General Assembly resolution that recognised the importance of Ombudsman and mediation institutions in promoting administrative justice, human rights protection and grievance redress.
As part of this year's commemoration, the Inspectorate will conduct activities throughout October aimed at bringing its services closer to citizens.
The second week of October has been designated Ombuds Action Week, during which all 16 IG regional offices will conduct community-level Ombuds clinics and outreach activities.
The clinics will provide an opportunity for citizens to present complaints and, where possible, have them addressed immediately.
The IG will also work with other public institutions during the outreaches, including the Judicial Service Commission, National Identification and Registration Authority, Uganda Police Force and local government authorities.
The Inspectorate will further conduct spot checks at public service points alongside Resident District Commissioners, district chairpersons and mayors to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
A high-level dialogue with the leadership of Parliament is also planned to explore how Parliament's legislative and oversight powers can support implementation of Ombudsman recommendations and strengthen public awareness of the institution's role.
The Inspectorate says the overall objective is to increase public understanding of the Ombudsman function and strengthen the relationship between citizens and state institutions.
The IG has urged citizens experiencing workplace injustice, delayed employment benefits, poor service delivery or other forms of administrative neglect to come forward.
Members of the public can lodge complaints by visiting the Inspectorate's head office at Jubilee Insurance Centre, Plot 14 Parliament Avenue, Kampala, or any of its 16 regional offices.
As Uganda marks Ombuds Day, the Inspectorate is urging citizens to make use of available mechanisms for resolving administrative grievances and to speak up when they believe they have been unfairly treated by public institutions.
Inspector General of Government Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala Urges Ugandans to ‘Talk to the Ombudsman’ Ahead of Ombuds Day
