Muslims welcome Naluzze’s historic IGG appointment as a test case
By Abdul Wahid Kakande
In good news for the Muslim community, President Yoweri Museveni has appointed justice Aisha Naluzze Batala as the new Inspector General of Government (IGG).
Naluzze now becomes the first Muslim government ombudsman.
She replaces Beti Kamya whose term of office was not renewed by the President. Naluzze’s appointment has been welcomed by members of the Muslim community.
Sheikh Abdul Noor Kinene argues that her appointment as IGG is a source of inspiration to other Muslims.
“We have been sidelined for a long time as the Muslim community when it comes to government jobs. So, her appointment is a source of encouragement and inspiration that even Muslims can serve in top government offices. We only pray that she carries our flag so that the appointing authority gains confidence in other Muslims,” Kinene said.
Mariam Wangadya, another Muslim, served as deputy IGG and was later appointed the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
Uganda loses Shs 9.7 trillion to corruption annually, an indicator that Naluzze’s work is cut out even before she takes office.
Who is Naluzze?
Born in 1977 in Butambala district, justice Naluzze was appointed a judge of the High Court in 2023. She was posted to the Land Division of the High Court.
Naluzze widely commands respect in the judiciary circles as a meticulous and impartial jurist known for her disciplined courtroom demeanor and deep understanding of administrative and land law.
Before her appointment as a judge, Naluzze served as an Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Naluzze holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC) and has attended several international judicial training programs in integrity in public office, land adjudication, and anti-corruption mechanisms.
Her early career was rooted in private legal practice before she joined the judiciary, where she rose through the ranks over two decades. She has since developed a reputation for fairness, legal rigor, and ethical leadership.
While at the Land Division, Naluzze became known for her firm stance against fraudulent land transfers and property disputes driven by forged documents, often directing investigations into officials implicated in land grabbing.
Her experience in handling such cases makes her appointment as IGG particularly significant — Uganda continues to grapple with land-related corruption, a sector that accounts for a large percentage of civil complaints to the Inspectorate of Government.
Legal analysts note that Naluzze’s familiarity with systemic corruption patterns within land administration gives her a unique advantage in steering the IGG’s next phase of reforms.
Once approved by Parliament, Naluzze will take over an office under mounting public scrutiny — expected to revitalize anti-corruption enforcement, rebuild institutional credibility, and restore citizen confidence in the fight against graft.
Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria and Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, were both retained as her deputies, ensuring continuity at the leadership level of the Inspectorate.
