Upholding Integrity: A Stance Against Corruption & Fraud

News   Bester Nyang'wa   March 15, 2022
PIC: A major deterrent of socioeconomic progress - Corruption.
In March 2022, MUBAS took a significant step towards promoting institutional integrity by launching the Institutional Integrity Committee (IIC). The committee's mission encompasses a comprehensive scope of work, including the development, implementation, and periodic review of an Anti-Corruption Action Plan. One of the committee's key objectives is to educate staff, students, and stakeholders on corruption and fraud, fostering a culture of ethics and integrity within the institution.

Chaired by Associate Professor Christabel Kambala of the School of Science and Technology, the committee comprises representatives from all five schools at MUBAS. It is tasked with creating corruption prevention tools, conducting reviews of work systems and procedures, and implementing recommendations for improvement. As part of its commitment to transparency, the committee aims to develop and publicise effective corruption reporting mechanisms.

According to one of the committee’s members Dr. Timothy Chadza representing School of Engineering, the committee monitors procurement processes, perform corruption risk assessments, and promote ethical practices to ensure the effectiveness of their efforts. Additionally, the committee has developed a client service charter, ensuring its widespread publicity, emphasising the importance of accountability and service excellence. Lifestyle audits, investigations into suspected corruption, and the recommendation of administrative actions are integral components of the IIC's strategy to uphold institutional integrity.

In terms of investigation activities and reporting, the IIC outlines a thorough process, including inquiries, fact-finding, information collation, evidence gathering, information analysis, and surveillance. The committee is authorised to conduct searches, interview witnesses and suspects, and compile comprehensive reports. Furthermore, the IIC is empowered to make recommendations to the management based on their findings, and in cases warranting external intervention, complaints can be referred to country’s graft busting body the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). “We are committed to handling complaints with the utmost diligence, ensuring that they can be received through various channels, including reports or referrals from external bodies”, said the committee’s chair Associate Professor Kambara, adding that the MUBAS Institutional Integrity Committee stands as a beacon for transparency, accountability, and the continuous pursuit of institutional integrity.

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