Refunding donors money is a third round of theft

For now the reality is that we need to sort out the mess that has caused the pervasive cancer of corruption to eat at the very basic foundations of our existence that even the most colourful of weddings or beautiful of romantic occasions cannot paper over.

It is a triple whammy: First the monies that, in these tight global financial times, could have been used elsewhere in the countries of origin were given to us as development aid. Which is great for us, but not necessarily so for the giving taxpayer. Then the monies get stolen by bureaucrats, and the poor, the genuine targeted recipients, do not see not a shilling. Horrendous! And then the recipient (mismanaging) Government dares to say that they will refund the stolen monies (presumably diverting from the honest taxpayer in the recipient country). Unbelievable!

We all know, hand-on-heart, that recovering the stolen monies will be a stretch at the minimum, what of all the cover-ups and the disgraceful positions taken so shamelessly on the grand theft at the Office of the Prime Minister. That is not to say that recovery from the suspects should not be attempted – it should be done mercilessly and without prejudice.

Offering to refund is not exactly Robin Hood (Robin Hood being the character of English mythical legend who would rob from the rich to give to the poor), but more of another set of ill thought-out approaches to sort out a problem of immense magnitude. The refund suggestion is a bizarre sort of reverse Robin Hood, a Robbing You, if you may. It is shocking that anyone should consider “refunding”.

That the magnitude is intense is attested to by the latest aid cut – a full and unambiguous freeze by Britain, over the decades Uganda’s biggest development partner or donor, as they are euphemistically called. “Unless the government of Uganda can show that UK taxpayers’ money is going towards helping the poorest people lift themselves out of poverty, this aid will remain frozen and we will expect repayment and administrative and criminal sanctions (the UK’s total aid budget for Uganda this financial year is about £99m ($151m or Shs400 billion).” And still our Government does not get it.

By considering the supposed refund, the government really is missing the point. And the point is the heartless, selfish denial of services and help to Ugandans who badly need them, and a seemingly callous Establishment that appears to be out of touch with public mood and the gravity of the failure of governance. The point, actually, is that the donors are not interested in getting the money back, apology or no apology. Their interest, if I may second-guess them, is in proper accountability, to the people of Uganda, and accountability to their taxpayers. Their interest is in lifting the standard of life for the people of northern Uganda.

By mooting the refund idea, the government is saying that they only care about the public relations aspect of links with donors. They do not see, or realise, that the whole idea of “refunding” is really a kicking of the people of Uganda in the teeth. Where will the refund monies come from? They will, of course, come from taxpayers’ money. What will the opportunity cost be? It will be the diversion, wilfully this time, of funds from what are clearly deserving programmes or functions.

It will be a denial to Ugandans of what they need elsewhere. It will be telling Ugandans that, “You guys and your desperation do not matter. Let us appease the donors.” It is a callous approach which, incidentally if the government did not know, will not be appreciated by the donor countries or their taxpayers. It is a complete miss; the type that makes people wonder about the seriousness of our government. It is shameful that we should even consider it.
Wake up, Government of Uganda! Wake up!

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The wedding of Princess Ruth Komuntale, princess of Tooro, was one of those wonderful little moments that relieve a nation from the stresses that various governance scandals force it to endure. It actually was a merciful moment – as are things like a good football victory or an Olympic triumph. But it was like two ships passing in the night – there for a short, fleeting moment, before reality returns with its more persistent glare.

For now the reality is that we need to sort out the mess that has caused the pervasive cancer of corruption to eat at the very basic foundations of our existence that even the most colourful of weddings or beautiful of romantic occasions cannot paper over. As we wake up to this horrible reality, we wish the princess and her handsome prince many blessings.

dsseppuuya@yahoo.com