Opinion: How many agents does Mzee need to combat himself?

“Mr Museveni announced his latest anti-graft plans in a Labour Day speech delivered in the rural eastern Uganda district of Namutumba yesterday afternoon. “I am using this Labour Day to tell everybody that we are going to have a big fight. I am going to set up another small unit in my office where the investors can ring directly if anybody asks them for a bribe or delays decisions,” Mr Museveni said” (Philip Wafula – ‘Museveni to set up new anti-corruption unit’ 02.05.2023, Daily Monitor).

The battle against grand corruption, graft, bribes and other siphoning of funds is getting ridiculous, as the Government of Uganda is not lacking offices or units, which are focused on the matter. It isn’t like the State House – Anti-Corruption Unit is the sole organization working with it under the Office of the Presidency.

No, there are several others like the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). In addition to that you have the Judiciary and Law Enforcement itself that works or have jurisdiction to follow up on cases concerning this sort of crime. Therefore, the State has several of units or organizations combatting this already.

There are already 6 Offices that has various of roles in concern with the battle against corruption. That’s without adding the Uganda Police Force or any of their entities who also investigate corruption. The Judiciary is also handling these affairs and the ones that are judging the matters. Therefore, there is already plenty of hands involved and have the ability too combat this.

The President is only creating another busy-body and another separate Unit in his residence. It is just a nice headline and looking like his really working against it. When the other ones are enshrined in law and are based on legislation. That’s why the IGG, FIA, PPDA, OAG and others are there to work and have a mandate. Alas, the Units created out of the Office of the Presidency is just on the whim and whatever guidance the President felt at that very day. Instead of boosting the ones who exists. He creates another possible entity who will be controlled and close proximity of him.

However, this will not solve it or combat it. No, this is just another “cat and mouse” chase where they will only capture small-fish and leave the big-ones alone. There is no way the ones in association or have had a handshake with the President will be captured. No, this is just to cause some good vibes and call it a night. Peace.

Burundi: Banque de la Republique du Burundi – Communique au Public (28.04.2023)

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Opinion: It was only a “mistake” to take the mabaati….

That is a political mistake that can also be subversive as you will see from my letter to the Prime Minister. That mistake, however, is totally different from converting those items to personal use. That is no longer just a mistake, but theft. Therefore, Kugonza do not worry, all those involved will be handled appropriately. Those who diverted the mabaati but not for personal use, must pay back the equivalent value in money or return the mabaati for the Karachuna, so that, that programme goes on. On many occasions, I have told leaders not to try and carry their Constituents on their heads financially (kubetikka) but show the families how to use the NRM programmes (NAADS, OWC, PDM, etc.) and make their own money. Kukulembera, si kwetikka abantu” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (11.04.2023).

A man who has claimed to fight corruption for over 4 decades are now calling it a mistake. A mistake is to forget your keys or forget to buy something on a shopping list. A mistake isn’t to divert, take or steal other people’s property. That’s what happened to the iron sheets or the mabaati. The Members of Parliament and the Ministers took government property, which was meant for government programs and supposed to be given to the ones in need in the Karamoja sub-region.

Alas, here is the issue. President Museveni needs to save face and show some action. Because inaction make him look weak. Though he cannot go to hard or too soft either. His in a position where he knows he needs the support and the cronies on his side. They are all used to and knows the drill. The system is built around looting, pillaging and finding schemes to enrich themselves of the government plate. That’s just the game that Museveni has put forward and built over the years.

The President knows very well that if he strikes to hard and goes after all the “thieves” he won’t have a functioning cabinet or party for that matter. Since there is no one who doesn’t know or doesn’t see what is happening. This is just the biggest scandal right now. However, there are plenty of other fish in the sea. It is a reason why 10 trillion shillings just vanishes in corruption every year. The iron sheets is just a manifestation of that.

That’s why he can act like this is a mistake, but this is the same man that accepts “kickbacks” from investors and was giddy to “handshakes” to people involved in Tullow Oil Tax Saga. So, we know how deep this goes. It goes skin deep and isn’t sincere. He only does it show heart, but it is meaningless. They will all be free and without a scratch in the end. Just like others before them. Ministers might been demoted and touched by the law. However, after the wind stops and normalcy returns. The same people are off the hook and re-appointed to greener pastures.

This is why I have little to no faith. The President can act like this and talk big game. Nevertheless, it doesn’t make it more true. We have seen his game and how moves. His a seasoned politician and has a set of procedures. The same will be happening here… and trust me. There might be a scapegoat or two, but they will be released and “forgiven” eventually. Since the President knows and they know the score. Peace.

Uganda: President Yoweri K. Museveni letter to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja – Brief on the Procurement and Distrubution of Iron Sheets by the Office of the Prime Minister (03.04.2023)

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Opinion: 30 billion shillings went to ghosts…

“Officials in the Ministry of Finance and 49 districts in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) face accountability queries after it emerged that they dished out about Shs30 billion to a total of 3,214 unregistered or ghost saccos” (Elizabeth Kamurungi – ‘How 3,200 ghost Saccos shared Shs30b PDM funds’ 05.04.2023, Daily Monitor).

The Parish Development Model (PDM) was bound to fail and there been so much issues already. This government scheme hasn’t lasted for long either, but still filled with questionable behaviour and misuse of funds. That’s why the latest revelation isn’t shocking either. Just another round and another time with mismanagement of public funds.

The PDM is just a new Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and a micro-finance scheme to intervene to create development. Nevertheless, the same sort of tale has already been done and for years without much to show for it. Still, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) pursuit the same of drill and expect another result. Well, that isn’t how things goes… and it shows.

The PDM wasn’t launched with full potential or within reasonable doubt, because it was done in a hay-day before electioneering and empty pledges ahead of a general election. Just like other monetary schemes that has been used to propel and “buy” goodwill. These small tokens and little coins have given the NRM rural support. Even if it doesn’t amount to much, because at least they get a little incentive to the rulers in Kampala.

Alas, the PDM is just being exposed and showing the fragile nature of the institutions. When they are paying ghosts and misusing billions of shillings. None should be amazed by this in 2023. This is the game that NRM has set, and they done so for years. It is just their newest trick, and we can just see it all happening.

The reports on the PDM have been staggering already and nothing useful seem to be happening. Except for the visitation of high-ranking officials and they get to bash in glory. However, you don’t need a micro-finance scheme to get people to dance. That’s just a cheap trick and it does no good. This is a waste of state coffers.

The PDM servers no one. That is clear from the on-set and they are only prolonging the agony until they have come up with a micro-finance scheme. Because they change ahead of every election and with little to no results. That’s why the OWC and Emyooga hasn’t been studied or evaluated properly before the launch of the PDM. This is when you know the gig is up and bound to fail. Not even trying to learn from past failures before launching a new one. That’s detrimental and shows the lack of concern.

Since, the NRM can just waste funds, pay the ghosts and call it a night. Peace.

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