BY Cadre Akansasira Junior Victor.
HE. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s and the country’s struggle against this scourge(Corruption) has been ongoing since 1986 and before, with little success. Despite the Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’ assiduity to establish institutions like; Inspectorate of Government (IGG) which is responsible for investigating and preventing corruption in public offices, Uganda Police Force – with a specialized -Anti-Corruption Unit, to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) – responsible for prosecuting corruption cases, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) – regulating public procurement to prevent corruption, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) – with an Anti-Smuggling and Corruption Unit to prevent revenue corruption, The Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) that monitors and investigates financial transactions to prevent money laundering and corruption, Office of the Auditor General (OAG) – audits government accounts and reports to prevent financial corruption, National Citizens’ Coalition (NCC)- a civil society organization that promotes transand accountability, Transparency International Uganda (TIU) – a chapter of the global anti-corruption movement and Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) – a coalition of NGOs that promotes good governance and anti-corruption – almost or truly tells us there is no Will to Scrabble corruption.
With the Inspectorate of Government and the Leadership Code, corruption remains rampant? This raises questions about the effectiveness of these establishments and the willingness of those in power to genuinely combat corruption.
The experiences of other countries, such as Singapore, Finland, Denmark, New Zealand etc offer valuable lessons. These nations have successfully tackled corruption through a combination of strong institutions, moral leadership, and a commitment to transparency and accountability. In contrast, Uganda’s leadership has been accused of being complicit in corruption, with some officials using their positions for personal gain.
One of the main challenges in fighting corruption in Uganda is the lack of political will. The government has been accused of being selective in its prosecution of corruption cases, with some high-profile individuals being spared while others are punished. This has created a sense of impunity among those in power. The systemic nature of corruption in Uganda means that it is deeply ingrained in all aspects of society.
To effectively fight corruption, Uganda needs to adopt a multifaceted approach that includes strengthening institutions, promoting transparency and accountability, and changing the moral fabric of society. This requires a commitment from all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and the media. Ultimately, the fight against corruption requires a fundamental shift in values and culture.
The Ugandan government’s approach to fighting corruption has been criticized for being too focused on rhetorics rather than action. The President has made numerous statements condemning corruption, but these have not been matched by concrete actions.
Corruption has painted a bad picture on the Museveni Government for all his achievements since 1986, there is now need for all Museveni’s left historical to Join Gen.Kahinda Otafire and Museveni to speak loud against corruption.
President Museveni Said , “Fighting corruption is not as difficult as people may think. By the time we run out of space in Luzira, people will have lost appetite for corruption.” but this is not enough.
Also from the 19th July X space organized by the Leaders of The National Patriotic Cadres Association on “Why Corruption is becoming a necessary Evil, one of Hon. Kato Gabriel a CEC member in Museveni Government called upon all Ugandans to have a combined effort against corruption.
“Whoever is found guilty of Corruption, should be held accountable, the corrupt should be arrested, resign from their offices, their property get sold to replace the stolen money, and not be allowed to do any government job.” National Patriotic Cadres Association members.
To move forward, Uganda must learn from the experiences of other countries and adopt a comprehensive approach to fighting corruption. This includes addressing the MORAL DELAY that has taken hold of society, changing the burden of proof to require public servants to demonstrate their innocence, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to combating corruption at all levels. Only then can the country hope to salvage its fight against corruption and create a better future for its citizens.
The writer is the National Coordinator, National Patriotic Cadres Association.
vj.akansasira@gmail.com
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