Hold Thieves of Public Funds Accountable

It is Every Ugandan’s duty to hold thieves of Public funds accountable

By Adellah Agaba

Corruption in Uganda remains pervasive, with Transparency International’s Annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2011 ranking Uganda at 143^rd place out of 182 countries with a score of 2.4. Previous compilations of the index between 2002 and 2010 indicate that Ugandans perceive corruption to be endemic and on the rise.

The pervasiveness of corruption in Uganda is partly attributed to citizens’ apathy and passiveness towards corruption. Despite the elaborate legal and regulatory framework to fight corruption, many Ugandans remain ignorant of the provisions of these laws, and cannot utilize them to contribute to the fight against corruption.

Recent scandals are a cause of alarm. It’s shocking at how government institutions are rotting due to the cancer that has eaten up all the working systems. Ugandans are getting used to the disease that it no longer surprises them that a public servant is causing a big financial loss to the economy! 

In the Prime Ministers’ office the financial loss of over Ugx 50bn is just a tip on the ice bag of the rot that is taking place in the OPM and causing the country losses through donor withdrawals. The pension’s scandal in the Ministry of Public Service is more shocking considering the overwhelming numbers of over 1000 Ghost pensioners which has caused a financial loss of over UGX 169bn tax payers’ money. Interestingly, my own father was published in the Daily monitor, 1^st October 2012, as one of the alleged ghost beneficiary from the scam. However, shock could be seen in my eyes having my dad called “Nabwire Winfred”. Even thieves are smart when it comes to forgery; the alleged beneficiaries that reported to CID had same complaints. The ID project has since gone under the carpet! We can’t mention all the scandals and exhaust them. What has become of our beautiful pearl of Africa?

What do we blame on this rampant increase in corruption? Lack of political will to fight it, low wages and salaries in public institutions, weak monitoring and accountability systems, or the passive attitude of the citizens on issues of corruption? The state of the roads in the country, health centres that are rotting away with no sufficient drugs, the poor quality of the education system are indicators of increased levels of corruption that we as Ugandans need to fight or else Uganda in the next 50 years might not be what we envisage.

I commend the work being done by the Uganda Police Force in trying to bring officials especially in the Ministry of Public Service to book and recommend that the same be done in other ministries; we just can’t tell what dirt can be discovered. The Police should further provide protection to whistleblowers to encourage more Ugandans to report any incidences of misuse of public resources because collective responsibility will help flash out officials who are making it impossible for Uganda to move forward. If we are to make an analysis, you will notice that if all the dirt is unearthed and proper financial management and accountability is established, Uganda can actually pay its own bills without depending on the donor community. Citizens need to join hands and hold the government accountable or we shall see our economy rot before our own eyes. For God and my Country!

The writer works with Uganda Debt Network.

aagaba@udn.or.ug