926 public officials fail to declare their wealth

The Ombudsman’s office has revealed that 926 public officials have failed to return wealth declaration forms nearly three months after the end of June deadline. The anti-corruption office has now decided to write to all public institutions seeking explanation as to why their employees have not complied with the deadline. Of the 5,712 wealth declaration forms distributed to public offices, only 4,786 forms were returned. “By the end of next week, we will have finished writing to all institutions to ask why their employees have not complied,” Jeanne Mwiseneza the Director of Wealth Declaration unit in the Ombudsman’s office said. “The number of unreturned wealth declaration forms however include those who have left their jobs, those transferred to other offices or those gone for missions, but soon we shall know the details when they respond.” Wealth declaration was introduced as a means of fighting corruption, embezzlement and abuse of public funds.Mwiseneza warned that those found to have deliberately failed to declare their wealth will be punished. Government employees are required to submit their income, assets and liabilities for verification by the office of Ombudsman. President Paul Kagame, Prime Minister Bernard Makuza and Senate president Vincent Biruta were some of the first senior government officials to declare their wealth. Ends

National

926 public officials fail to declare their wealth