President Museveni has announced the formation of several new anti-corruption units under State House, including the Accountancy and Audit Unit.
This unit will oversee audit processes at various levels of government.
On Friday, the President also established the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit to monitor Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) operations and combat corruption within the tax administration system. David Kalemera has been appointed as the head of this new unit.
“Now the accounting officers have let themselves down, we are coming in direct. Apart from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, we are now creating the Tax Investigations Unit and the Accountancy and Audit Unit,” President Museveni said.
President Museveni highlighted significant issues in revenue management, pointing to both under-collection and widespread theft.
“There is under-collection, but there is also mass stealing. The two (Accountancy and Audit Unit and Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit) will investigate all the tax evasions, under declarations, money diverted by Parliament and stolen among others,” he said.
He revealed that some funds diverted by Parliament were used for selfish purposes, such as constructing insignificant roads, thus undermining more significant projects. Additionally, he mentioned actual theft where diverted money accomplished nothing.
Corruption, as reported by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), costs Uganda sh9.7 trillion every financial year.
“This is not acceptable. Therefore, [corruption] should be crushed and will be crushed,” said the president.
The President classified corruption into two categories: the theft of public funds, misuse of procurement procedures, job selling, and theft of drugs from government hospitals.
The responsibility to combat this corruption lies with the PS, chief administrative officers, accounting officers, town clerks, and sub-county chiefs.
Another form of corruption is employee disloyalty in both government and private sectors, with Museveni labeling such employees as “enemies of Uganda”. He called on the police to “hold those who steal from government and private companies accountable, including repayment of stolen funds”.
The president urged the judiciary to deny bail to those accused of corruption, terrorism, rape, murder, and village theft.
“The only support we need from the judiciary is no bail for the corrupt, terrorists, rape, murder and village thefts,” he stated.
The president was speaking at the opening of the 7 days cabinet retreat at Kyankwanzi, National leadership institute, NALI where cabinet ministers, accounting officers and NRM’s CEC members have gathered to reflect on service delivery.
“We are here to reflect on what we have not done and to forge away forward,” said Lucy Nakyobe, the head of public service.
Nakyobe noted many times they have gathered to discuss achievements, highlighting it’s now time to focus on what needs to change to ensure service delivery.
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Nile Post
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