Lack of Political Will to Fight Corruption in Uganda

Cabinet reshuffle confirms lack of political will to fight corruption 

By Adellah Agaba

President Yoweri Museveni recently made a cabinet reshuffle which critics have argued underscored the Government’s lack of political will to fight corruption.  

The Cabinet lineup included three ministers still battling court cases over abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government, resulting from their roles in organizing the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala which allegedly cost the government over $150 million (over sh350 billion). 

Ministers Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) and Mwesigwa Rukuntana (State for Labor) retained their positions, while John Nasasira was transferred from the apparently “less influential” post of Chief Whip to General Duties Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.  Some of these ministers were also accused of taking bribes from oil companies which they denied.

In 2004, President Museveni launched the National Strategy to Fight Corruption. The strategy provided a Plan of Action to guide interventions in the fight against graft, and culminated into the government declaring a Zero tolerance policy towards corruption, as part of the overall National Anti-Corruption Strategy. However, the direction that the ruling NRM government is taking seems to be in direct conflict with this “only on paper” strategy. The President continues to make appointments to reward patronage and loyalty, rather than merit. Individuals muddied by corruption, such as Alintuma Nsambu, continue to enjoy presidential approval as the NRM seems resigned to its inability to check the “progress” made by those ripping off government coffers.  

With the glaring reluctance to fight corruption, exhibited by the actions of the President, it was not surprising that some of these political players resurfaced in the new Cabinet even before they are acquitted by the courts of law. In any case, did the President not reappoint Kutesa to government after his censor by the 6^th Parliament for abuse of office?

The reappointments of ministers Kutesa, Nasasira and Rukutana have therefore laid bare any claims of President Museveni’s commitment to eliminate the terminal cancer of corruption in his government. Worse still, the appointments of Alintuma Nsambu (ambassador) and Kirunda Kivejinja (presidential ambassador) - despite both being regularly linked to corruption scandals - are testimony to the regime’s inability to prize merit over loyalty. 

According to Transparency International Annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of December 2011, Uganda’s score has remained dismally below 3.0 percent, suggesting that corruption is “prospering” and that not much impact has been registered in effectively fighting against the vice. The country is still ranked among the most corrupt countries, placed at number 143 out of 182. This is a worrying decline from the 127th ranking in 2010.

Despite some positive aspects of the legal and institutional framework, recent corruption cases and political developments in Uganda indicate a lack of political backing for the implementation of anti-corruption reforms. The government needs to urgently enforce the existing anti corruption laws.   

 The President needs to seize this moment and reaffirm his commitment to the fight against corruption by not reinstating ministers tainted with corruption scandals just like he did with former ministers Prof. Khiddu Makubuya, Saida Bbumba and Kabakumba Masiko. 

If the fight against corruption is to yield tangible results, there is need to mobilize citizens to demand for government action on corruption. Since fighting corruption requires concerted efforts and active participation of all stakeholders, citizens need to be sensitized about their constitutional and legal rights and entitlements if they are to demand for them from the state. However, the onus remains with the government of Uganda and the President in particular, to go beyond talking - and walk the talk. 

If corruption is not to exacerbate inequalities and weaken government service delivery, there is need for government to take decisive action irrespective of the personalities involved; and restore public faith and confidence in the “Zero tolerance to corruption” policy.

 The writer works with Uganda Debt Network