The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, has challenged the youth to free Uganda from endemic corruption through integrity.
Dr Okiria made the remarks in an engagement with the Youth at the Uganda Christian University about her launched book; ‘The Touch of Humility: Leading with Compassion and Purpose,” in which she demonstrates great passion and commitment to fight corruption to free Uganda.
“As we collectively work towards a corruption-free Uganda, it is essential that our youth understand their role in promoting integrity,” Okiria said.
The event provided a platform for the Youth including students from different institutions higher learning across the country to review Dr Okiria’s book and also act as recruitment ground for anti-corruption crusaders.
The event was part of the ongoing Integrity Days initiative by the inspectorate aimed at fostering a culture of accountability and transparency among the younger generation.
In her 201-paged memoir officially launched by the Chief Justice of Uganda Alfonse Owiny Dollo recently, Dr Okiria passionately highlights that the future of Uganda lies in the hands of its young people.
It should be remembered that the 2024 National Housing and Population Census figures provided that about 70% of the country’s population were young people.
In her biography, Dr Okiria illustrates how integrity can be integrated into everyday life and governance and highlights that building a culture of honesty, requires a societal shift stressing that this partly explains her and the inspectorate’s commitment to youth engagement including launching additional Integrity Days, where young people can participate in workshops and educational activities focused on anti-corruption, transparency and ethical decision-making.
“The book is more than just amemoir; it is a call to action for every Ugandan to engage in the fight against corruption. I invite readers to reflect on their own roles in promoting integrity within their communities. The book serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging a united front against corruption while inspiring young leaders to carry the torch of accountability and transparency,” Dr Okiria said.
In the book, Dr Okiria shares her insights from her extensive experience as the deputy IGG, outlining both her personal journey and practical strategies for availing honest governance.
Dr Okiria points out her relentless pursuit against corruption in Uganda and reflects her achievements in fostering a culture of integrity, especially among youth.
The book is structured around a series of narratives and case studies, each highlighting different facets of humility and its application in real-world scenarios and in one of the standout features of Dr Okiria’s book, there is emphasis on the relationship between humility and leadership and argues that true leadership is rooted in the ability to listen, empathise and adapt qualities that are inherently linked to humility.
The guild president of the Law Development Centre (LDC) Kampala campus Guild President John Vianney Ayebare, congratulated the Deputy IGG for being a powerful voice and a catalyst of Uganda’s transformation through her decent work against corruption.
“The book marks not just a personal achievement, but a collective movement towards a brighter and more accountable future for the nation. Her book not only chronicles her personal journey and professional milestones, but also serves as a practical guide for Ugandans of all ages on how to actively participate in the fight against corrupt practices,” Ayebare said.
He added, “The Touch of Humility” by Dr Patricia Achan Okiria is a reflective and insightful exploration of the concept of humility and its transformative power in both personal and professional realms.”
In her book, Dr Okiria goes on to stress the urgency of creating more integrity days, aiming to reach even larger audiences, instilling a profound sense of accountability and ethics among the younger generations and goes on to address common misconceptions about humility, challenging the notion that it equates to weakness or passivity it instead posits that humility requires strength and self-awareness, enabling individuals to acknowledge their limitations while remaining open to learning and growth.
According to the Coordinator of students at different Law Development Center campuses, Ms Natasha Ampumuza paid tribute to Dr Okiria for being a key player in the significant milestones that have redefined the fight against corruption in the country.
“Dr Patricia Okiria has been instrumental in the integrity campaign with the youth on YO – SPACE. She has with clarity unpacked the 10 national values from the National Value policy and explained their implications especially to the youth and brought out their role in the fight against corruption in Uganda,” Ampumuza said.
She added thatcDr Okiria has empowered the young people to participate in the fight against corruption through reporting cases of corruption to the Inspectorate of Government and has used her time and space to mentor young leaders and encouraged them to serve with integrity.
