PM Nabbanja to auditors: Become our Development Partners

By Ismael Kasooha

MUNYONYO

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, has challenged internal auditors to move beyond routine checks and paperwork and become strategic partners in government.

“Government expects internal auditors to focus on high-impact and high-risk areas that could derail the achievement of socio-economic transformation,” the Premier said while opening the 20th Annual Internal Auditors Conference at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, on Thursday.

Nabbanja asked Internal Auditors to utilise data from past government initiatives to assess performance, inform future decisions, and strengthen governance systems across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies through proactive advisory services.

She also urged Internal Auditors to monitor and report on the performance of public institutions in a patriotic manner. “Your voice should not only be heard when things go wrong, but also in shaping policies and programmes before risks materialise,” she said.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of efficiency, transparency, and resilience as Uganda pursues socio-economic transformation.

“Internal auditors should provide timely and actionable assurance on key government programmes such as the Parish Development Model, contribute to policy formulation and implementation, support continuous improvement in public service delivery, and conduct regular value-for-money audits,” Nabbanja stated.

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah (3rd left) poses for a group photo with leaders of the Internal Auditors at their 20th Annual conference in Munyonyo

She explained that the government has strengthened the internal audit function through the Public Finance Management Act, which established audit committees, the Office of the Internal Auditor General, and internal audit units across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The Premier asked auditors to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, act with courage and independence, and strengthen collaboration with oversight institutions, including Parliament, the Office of the Auditor General, and the Inspectorate of Government.

The Acting Internal Auditor General, Hussein Isingoma, hailed the government for enabling them to perform their duties.