In today’s world, corruption remains an apparently inevitable force, especially in Uganda, where it has become a persistent issue that continues to eat away at the very foundation of society.
Despite efforts by the government to curb corruption and hold wrongdoers accountable, it often seems that these efforts are in vain as corruption slips through the hands of the government, leaving behind a trail of impunity and injustice.
Corruption in Uganda has advanced, taking on various forms, ranging from embezzlement of taxpayer money, bribery, and nepotism to favoring one’s close friends, especially in political appointments.
This vice cuts across all political spheres; accusations of political figures picking on their blood relatives and friends to hold public or political offices are very common in Uganda. It has not only been isolated to the ruling government; it cuts across to the opposition too.
These incidences have far-reaching consequences and devastating impacts on the country’s economy and development. They have led to corruption thriving at all levels of government institutions and businesses, leading to economic instability, social unrest, and a breakdown of trust in public institutions.
Take, for example, the fact that no citizen believes in the Inspectorate of Government’s Zero Tolerance on Corruption slogan. Ever since the IGG, Betty Kamya once stated that her office is not in a position to bring corrupt officials to justice since they are protected from above.
If the institution tasked with the mandate of investigating cases of corruption, issuing reports of investigations, witness summonses, and warrants of arrest of corrupt officials openly declares that it does not have the power to hold some corrupt officials accountable because they are protected, why was it set up then?
The whole purpose of the institution is to help the government instill a culture of accountability, transparency, integrity, and good governance. Some of the troubling issues that have made society believe that corruption has eaten into our bones and made us so helpless to the point of believing it has slipped through the hands of government control.
One of the most troubling aspects of corruption is the feeling of helplessness that many citizens experience when they witness corruption unfold before their eyes over and over again without a permanent solution at hand.
Despite the existence of anti-corruption laws and regulatory agencies, the perpetrators of corruption often evade accountability due to a lack of political will, institutional weaknesses, and a culture of impunity. Like the theft of the iron sheets meant for Karamoja, where one official was found with iron sheets on his goat shelter and another with the iron sheets in his compound. Yet nothing has been done yet; it just makes one wonder whether we have legalized corruption.
And in the most current exposed cases of corruption alleged to have taken place in parliament, where billions of shillings are reported to have been misappropriated and mismanaged, one would have expected the IGG or another arm of government, the State House anti-corruption unit, to have picked interest in these allegations and carried out investigations so that those officials mentioned, if found guilty, would be brought to justice. But both arms of government have been silent, leaving the ordinary man to conclude that the fight against corruption has already eluded the government and slipped through its hands.
In these cases, those in power have been seen as people who have used their power to influence and protect themselves and their close friends from facing justice, creating a vicious cycle of corruption that is difficult to break. The complicated networks of corruption that exist within government and businesses often make it challenging for law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders effectively.
Despite these daunting challenges, efforts to combat corruption must continue unabated. The government must strengthen its anti-corruption measures, enhance transparency and accountability, and empower independent institutions to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices.
Furthermore, building a culture of integrity and ethical behavior from the ground up is essential to preventing corruption from taking root in the first place. Citizens must be engaged and empowered to demand accountability from their leaders and hold them to the highest standards of ethical conduct.
While the fight against corruption may seem like an uphill battle, it is a battle worth fighting. The future of our societies and democracies depends on our ability to root out corruption and ensure that those who betray public trust are held accountable for their actions. By working together and staying vigilant, we can begin to turn the tide against corruption and build a more just and equitable society for all.
