President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the National chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has voiced strong concerns about the pervasive issue of corruption in Uganda, underscoring the massive financial toll it takes on the nation.
According to President Museveni, the Inspector General of Government (IGG) estimates that the country loses approximately Shs9.7 trillion annually due to corruption.
“This is not acceptable; corruption should be crushed and will be
crushed,” the President declared during his keynote speech on the
National Resistance Movement’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Ugandans.
President Museveni made the remarks today during the opening
ceremony of the Public Service Leaders’ Introspection Retreat at the
National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
The 7-day retreat which is running under the theme: “Answering the
Citizens' Call: Improved Service Delivery for Socio-Economic
Transformation”, is being attended by Ministers, Permanent Secretaries
and the members of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC).
Emphasising the historical roots and enduring nature of corruption,
President Museveni recounted anecdotes from his childhood, illustrating
how endemic corruption was before the NRM leadership.
“Before the advent of the NRM leadership, corruption was endemic in
Uganda, both during the time of the British and afterwards,” he noted.
The President drew a stark contrast between the pre-NRM era and the
measures his administration has taken to combat corruption. He cited
the discipline enforced within the NRA (National Resistance Army),
where misconduct was severely punished.
“When the NRA came on the scene, all this misconduct stopped,” he
stated, highlighting the public execution of those who committed
atrocities against the wananchi, such as the notorious Zaburoni. He said
this was done in order to maintain discipline and integrity within the
army.
Despite these efforts, President Museveni acknowledged that corruption
persists, particularly among those in charge of government funds,
procurement, and personnel.
He pointed to a dual nature of corruption: the stealing of government
money and employee disloyalty in private companies.
“To address the ongoing corruption, President Museveni announced the
establishment of several new initiatives, including a tax investigation unit
and an accountancy and audit unit. These units will focus on
investigating tax evasions, under-declarations, and money diversion.
“We are coming in indirectly,” he said, emphasising that political leaders
must step in when accounting officers fail to perform their duties.
He also stressed the importance of empowering the people to defend
their interests through leadership structures though he questioned their
effectiveness in curbing corruption.
President Museveni highlighted the role of the judiciary in supporting
anti-corruption efforts, calling for no bail for those accused of serious
crimes, including corruption.
“The only support we need from the Judiciary is no bail for those
accused of murder, treason, terrorism, rape, defilement, corruption
(embezzlement), and village thefts,” he asserted.
The President reiterated his commitment to defeating corruption, linking
it to broader national goals such as security, healthcare, education, and
economic integration.
“Once we deal with the corruption, we, then, have the other elements of
the mass-line that I talked about at Kololo recently, different from the
elite-line. Apart from security for all, we insisted on immunisation for all
and health care for all; education for all (UPE and USE); prosperity for
all; clean water for all; infrastructure development; and continental and
regional economic integration for the market of our wealth products. With
these, we cannot go wrong,” he affirmed.
The Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo highlighted Uganda's
advancements in security and economic stability under President
Museveni's leadership.
“You can now move from North to East, South to West, and Central at
any time of the day without any interruptions. This is military security,”
H.E Alupo stated, underscoring the nation's improved security
landscape.
On the economic front, she praised the enduring stability achieved since
1986.
“Economic security speaks for itself; Your Excellency, you have provided
economic stability from 1986 up to now,” the Vice President emphasised,
acknowledging President Museveni's pivotal role in fostering a stable
and secure Uganda.
The Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, also
expressed her gratitude and admiration for President Museveni's
leadership, which has steered Uganda towards significant development
milestones.
“Allow me to thank you, Your Excellency, for your vision, wisdom, and
strategic leadership that has propelled Uganda from the ranks of the
least developed countries to lower middle-income status,” the Prime
Minister remarked.
She affirmed her office's commitment to coordinating with all other
Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure the successful
implementation of the government's ambitious operational strategy
aimed at fostering a public service culture that supports tenfold
economic growth.
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja also welcomed President Museveni back from the
thanksgiving ceremony at Kololo, where the achievements of the
National Resistance Movement government were celebrated.
“We saw that Ugandans appreciate the NRM government's
performance,” she noted.
Addressing project delays, Rt. Hon. Nabbanja highlighted that design
reviews across MDAs have contributed to the slow implementation and
completion of projects.
“I have brought this to the attention of all ministers and accounting
officers,” she stated.
Additionally, she expressed gratitude for the progress in safe water
coverage, reporting that it stands at 65% in rural areas and 70% in urban
regions, with the exception of the Karamoja sub-region.
On her part, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Ms.
Lucy Nakyobe, also extended her deepest gratitude to President
Museveni for his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to
Uganda's development.
“Your commitment to enhancing the lives of our people through strategic
initiatives and policies provides the foundation upon which we build our
efforts,” she stated.
She also emphasised the critical role of Ministers and Permanent
Secretaries in improving service delivery.
“Your presence here signifies the collective resolve to introspect,
evaluate, and strategize for better service delivery. Your expertise and leadership are vital in steering our ministries and departments towards achieving our shared goals,” she said.
Ms. Nakyobe also acknowledged the valuable contributions of Party
Executive Leaders.
“Your role in shaping our political landscape and guiding policy
implementation is crucial. Your insights and support are invaluable,” she noted.
Ms. Nakyobe stressed the importance of responding to the needs and
aspirations of Ugandan citizens, underscoring that improved service
delivery is a necessity for the nation's progress and prosperity.
“The citizens of Uganda have voiced their needs and aspirations, and it is our duty to respond effectively and efficiently,” she added.
Reflecting on the significance of the Introspection Retreat, Ms. Nakyobe said, “This retreat is a pivotal moment for us as the top leadership of Uganda's public service.
Our collective presence here signifies our commitment to critically assess our performance and to chart a path toward improved service delivery for the citizens of Uganda.”
She acknowledged the persistent challenges in public service delivery, including inefficiency, bureaucratic delays, inadequate resource allocation, and lack of accountability.
“Despite our concerted efforts and the strides, we have made, it is
undeniable that significant challenges persist in our public service
delivery,” she said.
“The root cause of poor service delivery is a lack of understanding of the job we are in, failure to work together, and lack of commitment and accountability to the public,” she explained.
Ms. Nakyobe called for strong ethical leadership, effective policy
implementation, prudent resource management, and investment in
human capital to transform Uganda's public service.
“Through strong ethical leadership, effective policy implementation,
prudent resource management, investment in our human capital, and
focusing on our citizens, we can transform our public service into a
model of efficiency and effectiveness," she declared.
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