The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, has called for increased investment in specialised fraud examination skills, technology and intelligence-led investigations to strengthen Uganda’s fight against fraud and corruption.
Justice Naluzze made the call while officiating at the closing of the 4th Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Regional Fraud Conference 2026 at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala on Friday.
The conference was held under the theme, “Evolving Faster than the Fraudster: Elevating East Africa from Global Fraud Vulnerabilities.”
She observed that fraud was constantly evolving, with perpetrators becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly through advances in technology, digital financial services and artificial intelligence (AI).
She noted that although these developments had created new opportunities for economic growth, they had also exposed institutions to emerging forms of fraud, including cyber-enabled fraud, identity manipulation, complex financial transactions and procurement-related schemes.
Justice Naluzze said addressing the threats required institutions to move beyond conventional investigative approaches and invest in data analytics, digital forensics, intelligence-led investigations, asset tracing and continuous professional development.
She emphasised that fraud was not merely a technological challenge but also a governance and integrity concern, often facilitated by weak internal controls, compromised leadership and poor ethical standards.
Highlighting the contribution of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) to the Inspectorate of Government’s work, Justice Naluzze commended their specialised expertise, noting that they had handled several major fraud investigations involving substantial sums of public money, particularly in local governments.
She also revealed that the Inspectorate of Government and the ACFE Uganda Chapter would sign a Memorandum of Understanding next week to establish a framework for collaboration in fraud examination, investigation, prevention and professional development.
Justice Naluzze said the fight against fraud and corruption should not be left to enforcement institutions alone, urging both public and private institutions to strengthen internal controls, improve oversight and promote professional competence and a culture of integrity.
She also challenged fraud examiners to uphold professional integrity, independence, objectivity, confidentiality and competence, while translating the knowledge acquired at the conference into practical improvements in their respective institutions.
The President of the ACFE Uganda Chapter, George Turyamureeba Mugabi, said Uganda currently has 160 fully certified fraud examiners, including 12 from the Inspectorate of Government.
Mugabi cautioned institutions against waiting for fraud to occur before taking preventive action, noting that investigations were often expensive and time-consuming.
He urged citizens to actively report suspected fraud and called on professionals, particularly fraud examiners, to take the lead in educating and sensitising the public about fraud prevention.
He observed that although fraud was often detected at lower levels of organisations, financial losses resulting from fraud involving senior management were significantly higher.
According to Mugabi, perpetrators at senior management level take as much as nine times more than those operating at lower levels.
He further stressed the importance of evidence-based investigations and adherence to the law, saying investigators should prioritise securing evidence and following due process rather than focusing solely on making arrests.
Citing global fraud reporting trends, Mugabi said approximately 43 per cent of reported fraud cases worldwide were detected through tips, underscoring the importance of whistleblowing and public participation in exposing wrongdoing.
