Fighting Corruption in Uganda

Uganda is a vibrant country which has been driven down the path of vulnerability into the current predicament where the majority of Ugandans are faced with multiple threats against their dreams and aspirations for a brighter future. Corruption is thriving; the beneficiaries of this cancerous crime are growing rich overnight and becoming powerful and fight against corruption is increasingly becoming elusive. Many people are confused on whether to fight corruption or to simply join the corrupt while others simply do not understand what is happening; unfortunately the country is continuing to lose money whereas more people are joining the cartel. This is a big and very serious problem in our midst and I am worried about the young people.

Uganda is known to be one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world, although with a lot of resources. If you take a look at reports by Transparency International (TI) on corruption and related Indices for different years, you will realize that Uganda hold a firm niche along the highway of the most corrupt nations of all times in the whole world.

There is no doubt that corruption is a dangerous practice; it poses a great danger to service delivery, it causes stagnation since it eats away society’s moral fabric and suffocates sanity in regard to transacting normal business. Corruption must be stopped in order to kick start the momentum for the much desired culture of accountability, progress and for the sake reclaiming our (Ugandans) rightful position as a responsible and dignified people with ambition to lead successful life.

However, it is widely believed and evidence is there to show that there is lack of political will, moral sense of duty and national resolve on how this contagious and life threatening ‘cannibal’ practice should be stopped. Corruption fighting institutions have been put in place but undermined, they have therefore remained weak and worse still they are themselves not corruption free.

Although most Ugandans everywhere, are ever expressing detest of the corruption practice that has eaten the bone marrow of our society’s ethical fabric, the situation does not seem to get better. This makes me wonder how we can perpetually afford to leave side by side with a practice that most of us seem to hate. As Ugandans we must wake up because a closer look at the trend of events, paints a graver and threatening situation than we seem to generally recognise.

The different surveys and integrity survey reports compiled on corruption by different agencies (TI, IFC World Bank Group, African Region Working Papers etc) reveal glaring details about the gravity and consequences of corruption in Uganda. Businesses are operating under a constant threat from corruption and the investment climate is highly polluted; corruption and bribery in Uganda is estimated to increase costs of companies by about 8% thus threatening investment. The question therefore is; shall the Ugandan economy be able to compete, attract and retain the much needed investment?

On the other hand the record of government performance in executing its business leaves a lot to be desired, it is estimated that 90% of all verifiable corruption cases in the circumstances are procurement related, and 65% of that percentage are cases regarding procurement of government services and works. That should easily explain the shoddy pieces of work, quality of materials and the dragging projects that never seem to have corresponding budgets and specific timeline.

As Ugandans I feel we have played unforgivable roles in contributing to the above ugly situation either as active participants or passive spectators thereby aiding and/or witnessing the corruption scourge metamorphose to take its current pervasive shape and gaining institutional strength under our watch. This means therefore that most Ugandans in away must share responsibility although most of it rests heavily on the shoulders of government and the honourable Members of Parliament; the peoples representatives.

I honestly believe that where there is will there is away but we must remember that self created problems are self solved and time to act is now. That said; the debate in Uganda should not be whether there is rampant corruption or not as is usually the case. The debate should rather be on whether we should resolve to follow the example of countries like with a serious record on fighting corruption. Those proved guilty should be seriously punished so that others can learn the lesson. A strict law regime where the corrupt will earn themselves 150 years behind bars like billionaire Maddoff earned himself in the US would very much help the struggle against corruption in Uganda.

As citizens we have a responsibility to fight corruption, even when we feel powerless still we have the option to at least hate corruption and go ahead to make it known to all by speaking plainly, openly against it.

Most importantly it is time shun those who steal our money and amass wealth overnight, for sure they are not heroes but they are criminals and we should treat them as such. It is unfortunate that our society has come to accept this group of day light robbing criminals by treating them as the smart guys because of accumulating wealth overnight. This is utter rubbish, they have robbed the nation and impoverished our brothers and sisters, they have turned into land grabbers, they have duplicated car number plates to avoid paying taxes, they host madly expensive weddings, the list is endless and as if that is not enough crime they turn around to bribe voters with a tablet of soap or with a coin of 500 Uganda shillings. Is this not unfair? Is this not something we should hate? And is it a crime to speak against these evils? The responsibility is ours and so is the choice to decide on whether we maintain the status quo or seek to overturn it and redeem our image as a people and as a country.

As we contemplate the way forward the main lesson learnt is that corruption is a cancer indeed a ‘cannibal’ practice that requires every individual and/or group effort to stop it. The available options include; tough legislation, strengthening anti-corruption institutions, enhancing public awareness, focused media campaign, civil society action, advocacy and campaign by citizens, anti-corruption school campaign and Honourable Members of Parliament waking up to their responsibility. The form and content of these and other measures can be a subject of discussion which I implore Ugandans’ resolve to initiate.

‘For God and Our Country'