Section 7: Duties and functions of the inspector general

(1) The inspector general is charged with the duty of protecting and promoting the protection of human rights and the rule of law in Uganda, and eliminating and fostering the elimination of corruption and abuse of public offices; and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, he or she shall perform the following functions- (a) to inquire into allegations of a violation of human rights committed against any person in Uganda by a person in a public office and, in particular- (i) the arbitrary deprivation of human life; (ii) the arbitrary arrest and consequent detention without trial; (iii) the denial of a fair and public trial before an impartial and independent court of law; (iv) the subjection of any person to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment; and (v) the unlawful acquisition, possession, damage or destruction of private property; (b) to inquire into the methods by which law enforcing agents and the State security agencies execute their functions, and the extent to which the practices and procedures employed in the execution of those functions uphold, encourage or interfere with the rule of law in Uganda; (c) to take necessary measures for the detection and prevention of corruption in public offices and, in particular- (i) to examine the practices and procedures of those offices in order to facilitate the discovery of corrupt practices and to secure the revision of methods of work or procedure which, in the opinion of the inspector general, may be conducive to corrupt practices; (ii) to advise those offices on ways and means of preventing corrupt practices and on methods of work or procedure conducive to the effective performance of their duties and which, in the opinion of the inspector general, would reduce the incidences of corruption; (iii) to disseminate information on the evil and dangerous effects of corruption on society; (iv) to enlist and foster public support against corrupt practices; and (v) to receive and investigate complaints of alleged or suspected corrupt practices and injustices and make recommendations for appropriate action on the complaints; (d) to investigate the conduct of any public officer which may be connected with or conducive to - (i) the abuse of his or her office or authority; (ii) the neglect of his or her official duties; (iii) economic malpractices by the officer; and (e) to perform any other functions that the President may prescribe. (2) In the performance of his or her functions under this Act, the inspector general may, in addition to receiving complaints from the public, initiate investigations. (3) The inspector general may, in the performance of his or her duties under this section, investigate the actions of any person that may have been done while that person was serving in a public office, notwithstanding that at the time of the investigation that person may have ceased serving in that office.