Dear government, I am going to have a serious talk with you.
To oppose corruption in government, is one of the highest obligations of patriotism. If one is patient with corruption, they have failed on one of the highest obligations of patriotism.
The most corrupt people in the world are not necessarily those caught in the act, but those who are patient with the corrupt, those who always procrastinate when it comes to tackling corrupt individuals. Procrastination is also a subtle act of corruption – it corrupts valuable time.
I am made to believe that for 30+ plus years in power, NRM as an institution has been fighting a ghost war on corruption. The resources have always been available (including but not limited to foreign funding), institutions have always been setup and “corruption free days” even celebrated.
On most of those functions, the President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has often been the Chief Guest.
For the 30+ years that the President has been in power, he has lost a war, a war he just recently confirmed that he lost. That is the war on corruption.
I am now made to believe that we have lost the war on corruption constantly because of the lack of political will to tackle the vice.
Uganda has become a failed state due to corruption because the President lacked either the interest or the will to tackle corruption to the bone.
While celebrating Lt. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 48th birthday, I was so disappointed to hear the President (without hesitation), say how he was patient with corrupt people but expected Muhoozi to tackle the corrupt.
If Muhoozi is to tackle the corrupt, what is the use of the institutions we have constantly set up and funded using tax payer money to fight the vice for the years NRM has been in power?
Are Ugandans not right to believe that the constant corruption in the country has been bred by the President’s tolerance of the corrupt as he rightly insinuated?
In being patient with the corrupt, does he realize that opposition is right to say that he (the President) protects the corrupt?
What is that special skill that Muhoozi is going to apply to the system to fight corruption that he cannot currently share with his father, at least as his senior presidential advisor?
The mistake the President makes and he seems not to see, is in thinking that he (including Muhoozi and others), can live in a corrupt society for 36 years without being seen as corrupt themselves.
President Museveni needs to remember that we voted him into power to right the system. We did not vote him into power to pass on the corruption challenge to Muhoozi to solve.
I am so disappointed by the President’s remarks and his confession on corruption. This kind of reckless talk (with all due respect to my President I will call it reckless talk), is what has constantly led to loss of trust in the NRM system.
NRM that was once known for democracy in the early 90’s, is now known for corruption. This is a reality that NRM needs to face if it is to tackle this matter and gain back confidence of the people.
President Museveni needs to understand that if the current system cannot fight corruption, users who are Ugandans are unlikely to welcome more of the same system in future. They will likely get a new operating system even if it means switching from Android to iPhone. However costly it may be. Let us not underestimate the ability of Ugandans to change their operating system.
I hope the President sees this and he is able to find sense in it. I do not expect most people in the system to be as honest to him. But as a right-thinking citizen, it is my duty to speak the truth to him even if my voice shakes. This is what will make NRM and our nation better.
Thoughts by Belguin Prosper Lumu. Prosper is a market intelligence & strategy expert and, the CEO of Young & Free International Limited. You can follow him on Twitter via his handle @belguinprosper.
