The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Mrs Anne Twinomujuni Muhairwe, has warned that rising unethical practices, including corruption and abuse of authority, are undermining Uganda’s stability, security, and economic development.

While delivering a lecture of opportunity for the Fourth Intake at the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U), Mrs Muhairwe cautioned participants that unethical conduct should be treated as a strategic threat to national security.

“Unethical practices are not merely a moral or governance issue, but a strategic national security threat,” she said.

While noting progress in tackling traditional security challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity, Mrs Muhairwe cautioned that the normalization of unethical behavior in public and private institutions is eroding these gains.

She described corruption as the “core manifestation of unethical practices,” that has had an impact on key sectors such as health, education, and transport, and its role in signaling a broader moral decline.

“Corruption undermines national integrity, discourages investment, increases unemployment, and erodes public trust in institutions. Once citizens lose confidence, cooperation with authorities diminishes, creating major challenges for security agencies,” she said.

She called on both public and private institutions to adopt a whole-of-society approach to ethical governance, reinforced by values-based education, stronger accountability systems, and technology to curb misconduct.

“Stability depends not just on military strength, but also on trust in institutions, integrity, and equitable governance. Confronting unethical practices is essential to maintaining a stable society.”

Commissioned in 2021, the National Defence College – Uganda has graduated three intakes, with the fourth cohort nearing completion.