The Executive Director of Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, Ms Cissy Kagaba, has described President Museveni’s anti-corruption walk as a mere public gimmick, aimed at hoodwinking Ugandans into believing that government is serious in fighting corruption yet nothing happens.
Ms Cissy Kagaba says the President has failed make robust measures to fight corruption that has eaten into the core of service delivery.
“I didn’t hear anything new from the President. He has continuously said he knows the thieves but has failed to arrest them. So there was nothing new from him apart from marching,” she said.
Ms Kagaba said money has been spent to organise the march, but no accountability will be presented on how the funds were used.
“Other than walking, the government must take concrete actions to fight corruption. Auditor General and IGG have presented reports and you get the same ministries, departments and agencies that walked today failing to present clear accountability and walk the talk. So we need more concrete actions,” she said.
Ms Kagaba said fighting corruption is not about walking but rather action.
“When the President decides to walk, it means he now sees value in walking. Moving forward, they should let other dissatisfied people walk as a way to express their dissatisfaction. The president is the chief law enforcer. He is the very person who appoints several heads of institutions. Who is he walking against? Who appoints these corrupt people? The irony of public servants walking is that they are the same people who have failed to take up recommendations of the same government institutions.”
Kampala Central MP Muhammed Nsereko castigated security agencies especially police for blocking former Presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye from leading a parallel walk against corruption.
Mr Nsereko who described as “good” the gesture of walking against corruption, demanded that police chiefs who blocked Dr Besigye from walking be investigated because their actions were against a national cause.
“Now we want to know who was corrupted to stop Dr Besigye from walking because the exercise was for all Ugandans. Instead of police taking a T-shirt to him, they humiliated him and all people around were brutalized” Mr Nsereko charged.
