Mr President, after your oath, start war on corruption

Another term in office for the NRM could be the defining moment. National confidence in fighting corruption has diminished with the vanishing conscience over corruption. The vice that caused great shame has increasingly become a source of great wealth, unprecedented pride and prestige in a country that boasts of a religious populace of 99 per cent!

The high level of corruption is poised to annihilate us by destroying all national roots. The political rhetoric and declarations to combat corruption have seen establishments of entities and legislative Bills passed. But the question remains as to whether we are actually progressing or not.

In May 2006, just days before his inauguration, President Museveni acknowledged that there was corruption in the NRM. His extraordinary admission came at a time when several prominent NRM officials stood accused of misappropriating international aid.

In his Independence Day speech of October 2007, President Museveni announced plans to spend $10.4 million to improve the country’s capacity for fighting corruption. He said Uganda would attempt to boost anti-corruption efforts by addressing prevention, investigation, and prosecution through the implementation of the Threshold Country Programme. The fight against corruption even crossed borders when in September 2007, the Ugandan, Kenyan and Tanzanian anti-corruption authorities signed a declaration to deny safe haven to corrupt persons and investment.

But in June 2008, a senior World Bank official said a high level of corruption in procurement deals in Uganda was responsible for a loss of $300 million annually since 2005. He added that more than 70 per cent of government contracts were not awarded according to established procurement procedures with half of national budget spent on corrupt procurement deals.

The fight against corruption is on, but the outcome is in reverse gear. It should now be unnecessary for the Mr Museveni to threaten by word of mouth. Negative results are fast overtaking his spoken good intentions.

My earnest plea to Mr Museveni is this: Revive your hatred for the corrupt as you once did. Balancing loyalty with ethical requirements is a difficult task for you, but the majority of Ugandans would urge you to risk, even if it means making enemies. The social contract you signed with Ugandans three months ago is at stake. Please set your legacy straight.

Bring the needed balance between your personal preferences with corporate governance. Many are around you for what they can get rather than what they can do for this nation.

Even your own relatives must know that you have a national task and not family chore. Your historical comrades must recall the blood of fallen fighters, and serve worthy of the cause. The entrenched survivors hiding under your overstay in power must know that this cannot go on forever. Encourage them to retire. Many are before you in a scramble for positions in new government. Allow no unfit.
Bring the needed balance between professionalism and popularity. What national help is it, to appoint the popular at the cost of vitality in essence? They can be good at fetching votes but quite poor at delivering services. Say sorry to them too.

In view of the future, you will find a sense of completion and great fulfilment if you establish the foundations of this nation for posterity. For once, Mr President, root out corruption. Guide us in a national effort to restore sanity in public service, and an augmented commitment to bring back the needed shame to the vice of corruption.

proclaim@infocom.co.ug