Claim

Wikipedia says Judge and convict Lydia Mugambe Ssali served as the Inspector General of Government in September 2020. This claim was also made by the writer and lawyer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija in a BBC Focus on Africa interview on March 14.

Verdict

🔴 False

What we found

• We looked at the list of all people who have served as IGG, and we did not find Justice Mugambe’s name. The list has Augustine Ruzindana, Jotham Tumwesigye, Faith Mwondha, Raphael Baku (he served in acting capacity), Irene Mulyagonja and Beti Olive Namisango Kamya, or BONK.
• There is no evidence that Judge Mugambe ever appeared before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, which normally vets and approves all IGG appointments.
• On the website of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, for which Judge Mugambe has worked since May 2023, her profile makes no mention of her appointment as IGG. It says: “Judge Mugambe has been serving as a judge of the High Court of Uganda since 2013. Previously, she worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, both as legal officer within the Chambers Legal Support Section (2005-2010) and as appeals counsel within the Appeals and Legal Advisory Division of the ICTR Office of the Prosecutor (2010-2013). Earlier in her career, she was a judicial officer within the Ugandan judiciary (2000-2005).”
• We emailed the Inspectorate of Government to inquire about when Judge Mugambe served as IGG and how long. Here is what we were told: “This is not true. She has never served as IGG.”

🔴 Conclusion

There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that Judge Mugambe ever served as IGG. While President Museveni made an announcement in 2020 appointing her, she did not assume office. It is not clear why her appointment did not materialise.

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