Misconduct cases involving public servants dropped by 53 per cent over the past six months, Minister of Labour and Public Service Christine Nkurikiyinka has said, attributing the decline to stronger oversight, ethics training and increased use of digital systems.
Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs on Thursday, January 22, Nkurikiyinka said reported cases fell from 198 in the first six months of the 2024/2025 fiscal year to 93 in the first half of the current financial year.
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"This reduction shows that the preventive measures we have put in place are beginning to yield results, although our target remains zero tolerance to misconduct,” she told MPs.
The minister said government efforts have focused on reinforcing ethics across public institutions through regular induction programmes, coordination meetings and the establishment of anti-corruption committees in all public entities.
"Every public institution has a committee in charge of preventing corruption and managing risks that could affect service delivery,” she said.
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She added that public servants are prohibited from receiving gifts, except in limited circumstances such as diplomatic or cultural obligations, and only with authorisation from supervisors.
"Where a gift is exceptionally accepted, it must be declared, with a clear explanation, and approval is required before it can be retained,” Nkurikiyinka said.
According to the minister, more than 900 public servants have been trained on ethics and professional conduct, while surveys covering over 4,000 institutions and organisations have been conducted to assess transparency in both the public and private sectors.
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She also cited longer-term improvements, noting that the proportion of citizens who reported being asked for a bribe by a public servant declined from 10.4 per cent in 2012 to 3.7 per cent currently.
"This is progress, but we must continue working towards completely eliminating corruption,” she said.
Digitalisation, she added, remains a key tool in curbing misconduct, with plans to put more than 400 government services online to reduce physical interactions that often create opportunities for corruption.
"Digital systems reduce discretion and improve accountability. They also allow us to track performance more effectively,” Nkurikiyinka said.
However, MPs raised concerns about persistent challenges, particularly whistleblower protection and sexual corruption in workplaces.
MP Phoebe Kanyange questioned whether there are safe and confidential channels for reporting corruption, especially in employment-related cases.
"People want assurance that their identities will be protected when they report corruption,” she said.
In response, the minister confirmed the existence of a toll-free reporting line but ruled out financial incentives for informants.
"Our focus is to build a culture where citizens understand that corruption harms everyone, rather than encouraging reporting through payments,” Nkurikiyinka said.
Other lawmakers expressed concern about sexual exploitation and so-called "body-pleasing” corruption, particularly affecting young women in sectors such as hospitality.
Acknowledging the issue, the minister said the government is working with the Gender Monitoring Office to raise awareness and strengthen reporting mechanisms.
"Sexual corruption is complex and often hidden because victims fear speaking out. Silence allows it to continue, and that is what we must break,” she said.
Nkurikiyinka added that training of labour inspectors and workplace committees is ongoing, alongside intensified awareness campaigns in both public and private institutions.
"We are seeing improvements, but challenges remain, particularly in the private sector. Addressing them requires sustained effort and cooperation from all stakeholders,” she said.