The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has urged the government to empower institutes like the Parliament and Judiciary, stating that it will help them work independently without interference from government officials and the public at large.

The Head of Media and Communications at UPC, Faizo Muzeeyi, made these remarks during the party’s weekly press conference on December 13, 2023.

Muzeyi said that if the institutions are empowered to carry out their activities independently, it will reduce the high corruption tendencies in the institutes and the country at large.

“Most corrupt officials do not get punished because they are government officials or relatives of influential people in the country. So if these institutes, like the judiciary, are left to work independently, the culprits will be punished accordingly, reducing corruption cases,” Muzeeyi said.

He added that parliament should be able to make independent decisions away from the state’s influence and pressure, thereby reducing corruption tendencies because corruption is highly threatening quality service delivery from both local and central government.

“Parliament should be able to make its own decision through good research other than falling for pressures from government brokers who do not offer quality services to the public,” he added.

This comes after the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of International Anti-Corruption Day, which was celebrated on December 9, 2023, under the theme “strengthening partnerships in the war against corruption.”