By Aggrey Baba
Whistleblowers in Uganda are raising alarm over what they say is a growing pattern of retaliation and neglect after exposing corruption in government institutions, despite existing legislation meant to shield them from harm.
Henry Dhikusooka, a former compliance officer at the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), says he faced a systematic campaign of victimization after reporting alleged financial irregularities and abuse of office. In 2021, he petitioned President Museveni and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to act on his disclosures. However, instead of receiving protection, he was suspended and later dismissed on grounds of misconduct, a decision he has challenged in court.
“I acted out of a sense of national duty. But what followed was a witch-hunt. My case remains unresolved,” Dhikusooka said.
A similar experience befell Job Richard Matua, former assistant RCC for Arua, who raised concerns about the alleged mismanagement of NSSF resources.
Matua says he was turned into a suspect and lived in fear, often changing locations and hiding documents. “At one point, I had to hide files in the ceiling of a toilet. I couldn’t even trust people around me,” he said.
These accounts have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the Whistleblowers Protection Act, which was enacted in 2010 to protect individuals who disclose wrongdoing in the public interest, with the law promising confidentiality, legal immunity, and a 5% reward from any money recovered as a result of disclosures.
However, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Irene Nakimbugwe says the law is narrow in scope and doesn’t adequately shield whistleblowers from threats and intimidation.
“The current law focuses only on the whistleblower but fails to extend protection to their families or close associates, who may also be affected,” she said, calling for amendments to strengthen the law, including provisions for witness protection.
Another stakeholder from the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, said the law lacks a clear enforcement mechanism and is poorly implemented, adding that whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption, but without real protection and support, many are left exposed. He also noted that promised rewards under the Act are often not delivered, further discouraging individuals from coming forward.
The IGG, Beti Kamya, acknowledged that whistleblower information has helped in prosecuting corruption cases. However, she advised whistleblowers to act cautiously and avoid publicly disclosing their identity. “We don’t want people to put themselves at risk. Some successes have come quietly,” she said.
Although the Whistleblowers Protection Act was a significant step when it was passed in 2010, critics say the law has not been fully tested or backed by strong institutional support.
As cases like that of Dhikusooka and Matua’s continue to emerge, there are growing calls for Parliament to revisit the law to ensure it truly serves the people it was intended to protect. For now, whistleblowers in Uganda say the risks of speaking out far outweigh the protections promised by law.
