President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to take serious action against corrupt government officials as a means of phasing out corruption.
While delivering his speech during the 37th National Liberation Day celebrations at Kakeeka grounds in Kakumiro District on Thursday, January 26 2023, President Museveni said that corruption will be stamped out of the country.
The President’s assurance to the public follows multiple allegations that some top public servants are side-lining during the job recruitment scheme.
“I have heard the bazzukulu (grandchildren) crying about the District Service Commissions selling local government jobs. Obtain evidence and we jail these pigs in Luzira since there’s abundant space for criminals,” President Museveni stressed.
His Excellency also cautioned the government officials that are manipulating and harassing young girls sexually before being recruited for any job. Some ladies are asked for sex before they can be given jobs.
“I have heard of girls being exploited sexually as bribes for jobs. Devoted members of the public get evidence and we expunge and roast those pigs – and jail them in Luzira since it has abundant space for criminals,” Museveni said.
President Museveni however, congratulated some government agencies that have played a pivotal role in fighting corruption.
“I have seen people who had stolen PDM and Emyooga money being arrested or being forced to refund the money. So I congratulate some government agencies,” he said.
The President warned heads of government-aided institutions who have declined the directives against school fees payment and have gone ahead to charge fees especially primary and secondary schools yet it was scrapped in 2018. He said that the government is supposed to provide free education in these institutions since most families cannot afford to pay tuition fees to educate their children.
President Museveni added that charging school fees in government-aided institutions partially accounts for the country’s 64 per cent dropout rate at secondary school level.
“Charging school fees in government-aided schools is not acceptable. Some head teachers have continuously disregarded our directive but I can assure you that we are going to wage a serious war against them. Stay tuned. You will hear what we shall tell you in a few weeks. Corruption shall be stamped out,” he said.
Corruption in Uganda is characterized by theft of public funds and petty corruption involving public officials. According to the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International, Uganda was listed as the 144 least corrupt nation out of 180 countries. In 2022, the Statehouse Anti-Corruption Unit arrested over 52 Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) arrested over corruption and billions of cash recovered from the Parish Development Model (PDM) program after being swindled by some district officials.
