Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called on citizens to be involved in exorcising the demons of corruption by holding leaders accountable for fiscal improprieties.
Speaking through his Special Presidential Assistant on Anti-Corruption, Rebecca Atwine on Tuesday said “President Museveni stressed that corruption undermines national development, service delivery, and public trust,” urging citizens to join the fight against corruption.
“Individual failure to act against corruption is a collective failure for all citizens,” he said, referencing the constitution of Uganda, which states that combating corruption is a duty of every citizen
The Ugandan leader emphasised the importance of grassroots accountability in wealth creation projects to ensure transparency and greater impact.
He proposed a multi-pronged approach, including digitisation of services, enhanced public engagement and targeted interventions in corruption-prone sectors.
Atwine noted that integrity issues must be confronted to redirect Ugandans’ innovation and ingenuity away from manipulating legal and administrative processes that undermine accountability.
The government aims to create a corruption-free society, aligning with a ten-point program.
According to data obtained from Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda, corruption permeates all parts of Ugandan society and acts as a major constraint on economic development and poverty reduction.
Thirty-eight percent of people had to pay a bribe to access a public service in the previous year. Uganda’s legal framework for fighting corruption is relatively strong.
Several new anti-corruption laws have been passed, but implementation of the laws is weak, especially for cases of grand corruption, it noted.
MG/as/APA