Uganda’s State Minister for Investment and Privatization Evelyn Anite has called for public shaming of government officials caught in corruption.

The minister wants such officials to be paraded in public as a punitive and deterrent measure against the skyrocketing corruption in the country.

“These corrupt people, we should name them one by one. We should them tie them up with with a rope and parade them on City Square,” the minister said at a recent event.

Anite, who also served as the MP for Koboko Municipality until 2021, says corruption is increasingly tarnishing the image of the government.

The Minister says she is personally facing difficulty stepping out as a cabinet minister for fear of public ridicule.

“Corruption is making us very unpopular,” she said.

“We are tired; I am fatigued and even ashamed to sit in a government car, because whatever you do if you dress smartly (people say) our money…this is because citizens are aware that we are eating their money and they are tired.”

Corruption in Uganda remains a significant challenge, impacting various sectors of society and undermining efforts towards sustainable development.

On Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Uganda scored 26 on a scale from 0 (“highly corrupt”) to 100 (“very clean”). When ranked by score, Uganda ranked 141st among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.

Extent of Corruption in Uganda

Corruption in Uganda permeates many levels of government and society, affecting everything from the procurement process to public services. High-profile cases frequently involve government officials and large sums of money.

Key Sectors Affected

The most affected sectors include health, education, and infrastructure. Bribery is common, with citizens often having to pay for services that should be free. In the health sector, funds allocated for medical supplies are frequently misappropriated, leading to shortages and substandard care. Education suffers similarly, with resources being diverted and “ghost teachers” (teachers who are on the payroll but do not exist) being a recurring issue.

Government and Anti-Corruption Efforts

The Ugandan government has made some efforts to combat corruption, including the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court and the Inspectorate of Government (IG). These institutions are tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption cases. However, their effectiveness is often hampered by limited resources, political interference, and a lack of political will.

In recent years, there have been some positive steps. In 2020, the government passed the Leadership Code (Amendment) Bill, which aims to strengthen the legal framework for combating corruption by requiring public officials to declare their wealth. Additionally, President Yoweri Museveni has publicly condemned corruption and called for more stringent measures to address it.

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Pulse UG