The fight against corruption in Uganda went a notch higher in Uganda as President Yoweri Museveni on Monday launched an Anti-Corruption Unit that will work with other agencies in the country to fight the vice that has cost the country trillions of shillings over the decades.
Museveni appointed Lt. Col. Nakalema to spearhead the activities of the unit he said would work with the Inspector General of Government (IGG), the Auditor General (AG) and the CID. The unit will also work with the general public who were given hotlines to report suspects.
Speaking during the International Anti-Corruption Day in Kololo Independence Grounds, Museveni said his government will now go after properties of the corrupt officials to recover government money.
Museveni urged the public to report government officials such as the police, health personnel, among others, by calling hotline 0800202500 and Whatsapp number 0778202500.
He urged Nakalema to recruit officials who will do the work without being enticed to engage in corruption. “People will be reporting to Nakalema who’ll be reporting to me, however, be careful of the people you bring, don’t be infiltrated by weevils,” he said.
Museveni said that about Shs54 billion was stolen but nothing has been done about it. He said an extra US$1.7 million was also stolen and has never been recovered.
Museveni said he would straight away sack some of the corrupt public officials without going through court process.
Museveni said tired public officials can resign their jobs, saying the country now has young people who are educated. “The good thing is that Uganda has produced very many children and they’re all educated, for those who are tired, they can leave so that others come in. The departments responsible for fighting corruption are infected with weevils,” he said.
The president who has always castigated the media for some of the reports, this time urged the media to join govt in fighting corruption in the country.
He said the embezzlement of government funds is still going on. “The heads of this theft are, Permanent Secretary, Chief administrative officer at the district level, town clerk, and Gombolola chief,” he said.
Museveni urged the youth to engage in income generating projects such as carpentry, wielding, apparel among others to fight Poverty and unemployment, saying they are a challenge to the youth.
Museveni said by 1986, Uganda faced the challenges of extortion by the army, extrajudicial killings, poaching of animals in national parks, embezzlement of public funds, bribery, nepotism and encroachment on natural resources.
“When we left the bush, we thought Public Officials were corrupt because Idi Amin had appointed illiterate people. But even now, they are educated but lack integrity, something not followed by their supervisors,” he said.
He said corruption is too much, it destroys work. This theft, he said, hinders government work. Work can’t be done because people divert the money for personal use, he said.