Ms Matembe speaks at the second National Anti- Corruption Convention at Hotel Africana in Kampala yesterday. The meeting was aimed at urging Mr Museveni to punish corrupt officials. PHOTO BY REBECCA VASSIE.
Anti-graft meet puts Museveni on the spot
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Anti-graft-meet-puts-Museveni-on-the-spot/-/688334/1635796/-/2aw3hu/-/index.html
By DEAR JEANNE
Posted Tuesday, December 4 2012 at 02:00
Posted Tuesday, December 4 2012 at 02:00
In Summary
KAMPALA
President Museveni cannot lead the fight against corruption because many of the suspects are his relatives and cronies, anti-corruption activists charged yesterday.
Speaking at the second National Anti-Corruption Convention in Kampala, at which they launched the Black Mondays to mourn corruption in the country, the crusaders called for a review of the Constitution to limit the powers of the President.
“How can you tell President Museveni to act against his nieces and nephews?” thundered Miria Matembe, a former minister-turned good governance activist. “It is impossible; there is no way he is going to take actions that will affect his own.”
Several politicians and civil society activists attended the function and shared diverse views about how corruption, which has gained currency in recent weeks after donors cut aid following widespread graft in the Office of the Prime Minister, can be addressed.
Call for review
Ms Beti Kamya, the president of Uganda Federo Alliance party, called for a constitutional review to separate the powers of the different arms of government. “The seed of corruption was planted at the time when the Constitution of Uganda was enacted,” she said. “How can you tell me that one person appoints the Judiciary, police leadership, the head of the Treasury, ministers who are part of parliamentarians, Inspector General of Government, who is supposed to be independent and all other key people in this fight. So if he is the root of the problem, who will act?”
Former Attorney General and Supreme Court judge Justice George Kanyeihamba said the country has good laws against graft but little will to enforce them. “We need to find out who is responsible for the lack of implementation of the laws, because we have practically the best laws. Look at our IGG Act. It is the best,” Mr Kanyeihamba said.
The IGG, Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja, who officiated at the convention, warned civil society organisations against politicising the fight against corruption. “Corruption has no colour,” she said. “You are seated here and throwing stones at the government; stop politicising corruption in terms of colour and parties. You may not know what green and blue would do if they were on the forefront, to call it a vice of the yellow.”
Yellow is the colour of the ruling NRM party while opposition parties DP and FDC use green and blue respectively. “Yes the vice has become worse and we need to become aggressive. It is through the public, which has information, and our aggressiveness that these vice can be fought. We have corruption because it is something entrenched in our society.”
Lady Justice Irene
Mulyagonja
IGG accused of protecting corrupt
officials
Publish Date: Dec 04, 2012
By Pascal KwesigaThe Inspector General of Government (IGG), Irene Mulyagonja, has cautioned anti-corruption activists against politicising the fight against graft by heaping blame on the Government for the current corruption trends.
“You are throwing stones at the Government in power but, you may equally become corrupt if you are put in such positions,” she said, during the second National Anti-corruption Convention at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Monday.
Mulyagonja said corruption is so pervasive in society that even the activists are likely to behave the same way as corrupt government officials if they are employed in the public service.
“Corruption is not blue, red or yellow. You may continue to see the same situation even if you change colours,” she added.
The IGG noted that the fight against corruption cannot be won if it is restricted to the anti-corruption agencies of government, saying the biggest watchdog was a vigilant public.
She noted that grand corruption in the public service began to show its ugly face, during the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting that Uganda hosted in 2007, adding that it has continued to rise.
Mulyagonja, who was the chief guest, underscored the importance of concerted efforts in dealing with the vice.
But the former ethics and integrity minister, Miria Matembe ,who had earlier shed tears as she recalled the ordeal that some families in northern Uganda are going through as a result of corruption, approached Mulyagonja after delivering her speech and said:“ You are here protecting the thieves yet you know them and have the evidence against them.”
Mulyagonja replied: “I don’t have the evidence until I get it. We shall talk, we shall find a solution.”
The anti-corruption activists resolved to isolate all politicians and public officials who have been implicated in various corruption scams in which billions meant for the public have been lost.
The activists also resolved to stop extending invitations to the corrupt officials to attend their parties and funerals.
They argued that the people who had been named in corruption scandals should not be allowed to preside over functions or speak to the poor people they are stealing from.
A recent report by the Auditor General revealed that billions of money meant for pensioners and reconstruction of northern Uganda was diverted by government officials.
