Political Corruption: A Wolf in Public Service eluding accountable governance
By Robert Kigongo.
I watched a viral video of Lwengo LC.V Ibrahim Kitatta on X supporting and justifying the corruption involvement by his accused woman presentative in parliament.
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At that moment, I noticed that political corruption is a wolf roaring wild before us eluding accountable governance and accelerated sustainable development.
The viral video of Kitatta joins Juliet Kinyamatama Woman MP of Rakai District and Bukedea Woman Member of Parliament before the thousands of peasantry congregation in Lwengo chanting support of accused Cissy Namujju's alleged industrial-scale corruption acts.
Ibrahim Kitatta is filmed stating “Namujju cissy has been participating in embezzling of public funds to share the money with you the electorate”
Such infamous statements from our executive legislators, leaders in local governments and corridors of power clearly justify that Political corruption that stems from gloss impunity, election fraud, and irregular recruitment of public servants and decline in rule of law;
‘Political corruption is a wolf with gloss Impunity horns deeply infiltrated and entrenched in every cell of our most trusted public servants and government offices’
What puzzles me is how such corrupt sick officials get into public offices.
Who votes them into office?
Who appoints the corrupt technocrats into our public offices?
How did we reach this point of embezzling public funds and then we organize church masses and political rallies to celebrate and sanitise corrupt officials as heroes?
Similar sentiments cleansing Corruption and embezzlement of tax payer’s money in public offices happened at thanksgiving Mass of Mpuuga Mathias Nsamba the former leader of opposition and Member of Parliament for Nyendo Mukungwe Masaka City.
That’s how ugly gloss impunity and political corruption have entrenched in every cell of our society.
In my observation, we urgently need to diagnose and stem political corruption a wolf is eating our society.
Shockingly, the statements by Lwengo LC.V Ibrahim Kitatta and women legislators came shortly a day after President Museveni had roared to fight corruption during the closure of the 3rd National SDG Conference;
Presidents, the roaring against corruption fell on defy ears of his officials who are a reflection of his leadership.
Deep down these public officials with gloss impunity ‘know’ absolutely nothing legal will happen to them because of their political support to the Status quo.
For better service delivery, steady progress and sustainable development we need a thorough diagnosis on the root causes of political corruption that has persisted in our society.
We must urgently stem out patronage symptoms that cause gloss impunity upon which political corruption wolf roars triumphantly.
Political corruption starts with the chief executive officer exchanging government jobs for political support which is very typical in all, semi-democracies, authoritarian and totalitarian regimes across the World.
Imagine President Museveni recommending the prosecution of Anita Annet Among whom he coerced to join NRM from FDC where she was a foundation pillar under rival and foe Kiiza Kifeffe Besigye.
Anita Among is just a statistic of the former opposition strongholds who have crossed from FDC, UPC, DP and lately NUP to get jobs in Museveni’s NRM ruling government.
In the human market, you can never fail to find greedy and intelligent people available and willing to be purchased by the highest bidder.
The most famous one lately is Norbert Mao the Democratic party President who serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs.
Subsequently, it’s not just political public offices but even technical offices where all former NRM critics serve after exchanging their opposition stance with government jobs at all levels.
Articles 98 and 99 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda vests the Executive Authority in the President for provide leadership in public Policy management and accountable governance.
It’s the president as the appointing authority who appoints permanent secretaries, commissioners, presidential advisors and other cadre positions.
There is nothing wrong with the president appointing top officials in public offices but on what basis are they selected?
Do they academically qualify for those positions? Do they receive any orientation or refresher training to handle tasks?
What is wrong is patronising public servants and government offices for political support in multi-party dispensation and democratic countries.
The majority of these blue, cream and pink patronage-appointed individuals in public service end up financially indisciplined, and incompetent worst part is embezzling public funds with gloss impunity.
No wonder it's appointed government officials who have acquired abnormally filthy massive wealth and Hollywood superstar bungalows and offshore bank accounts in foreign countries even without producing a matchbox.
The current Inspectorate of Government Chief Betty Turyomwe Kamya proposed to introduce a lifestyle audit which the commander in chief and appointing authority refuted.
You cannot easily fight corruption in the Banyabuzare Republic of in-laws, brothers and sisters, clan relatives, bush war friends and patronised Kyankwanzi alumni and alumnus cadres who have accessed government jobs based on blood relations and nepotism rather than meritocracy.
One Anti-corruption investigative officer privately shared that when you fight corruption it also fatally fights back.
Stating that in most cases the culprits are connected individuals or strongly affiliated to the Political system in place, so might either lose your life or your job.
Thus resorting to name and shame to tame the connected and wealthy corrupt.
Fortunately, Uganda has the Public Service Act 2008 robust anti-corruption infrastructure and a robust digitized system for service delivery.
Unfortunately, embezzlement of public funds, nepotism, and plundering of our natural resources continue due to gloss impunity that incubates political corruption.
The diagnosis could be in slightly amending article 99 Section C and Article 98 of the Constitution and reviewing the Public Service Act 2008 among others.
‘Constitute a public service reform commission to streamline, restructure appointments and recruitments mechanism at all levels’
The Public Service Reform Commission will carry out a thorough human resource and a structural forensic audit on the judicial service, health service, parliament commission, health service commissions and the Ministry of Public Service work.
Regardless of political affiliations all Ugandan citizens deserve to work in government public offices based on merit as long as they are eligible but not under the condition of exchanging support for government jobs.
I strongly believe with meritocracy and indiscrimination, we can collectively stamp out political corruption to achieve accountable governance, accelerated sustainable development and a fresh impetus for a corrupt-free country.
Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst.
