Uganda: Provide Enough Funds to Anti-Corruption Agencies

The Bill, tabled in October 2008, is intended to deal with corruption in the public and private sector by setting stiffer prison sentences for embezzlement and causing financial loss. It also calls for confiscation of assets acquired through corrupt means. The steps taken to review the anti-corruption laws and provide for stiffer penalties are welcome and deserve the support of everyone. However, the public has been sceptical about Government's commitment to fight corruption. Although Uganda has fairly elaborate formal control mechanisms, corruption continues to be a major problem. National and international surveys tend to suggest that corruption is merely escalating. There are several factors undermining the fight against corruption. These include the gross under-funding and understaffing of the anti-corruption agencies, which greatly hampers their capacity to enforce measures to combat corruption. For instance, the staffing of the Inspectorate of Government is too thin to cover the country, yet corruption is widespread in the local governments. The Government has at times acted in a manner that has equally undermined the fight against corruption. Sometimes it has ignored recommendations made by the anti-corruption agencies. This has called into question the Government's commitment or ability to combat corruption. The public perception is that the thieves, who are well-placed in the Government and political establishment, are untouchable and that only the "small fish" are punished. For example, in the case of the Global Fund, we are yet to see the "big fish" in the dock. The challenge, therefore, is to ensure that the anti-corruption laws are rigorously enforced and anti-corruption agencies accorded priority in funding. The war against corruption must be waged relentlessly and equal to all.
Allafrica.com