Because of General Election 2016, this one here got lost for me, but not for too long as the Report from Inspectorate of Government that came in 27th May 2016 has some clear issues within Government.
What it indicates is how many civil servants that use their position to gain extra funds and salaries, but also with the knowledge of troubles gaining enough income or salary on time therefore the acts of cheating, grafting and impersonation seem like a way out of poverty and actually just eat for a brief moment. That doesn’t justify thieving, but proves the systemic defaults on its own.
The Government and this IG has business to handle as there are cases in may districts and areas of the Republic only in the last 6 months. This here is just some fragments of the report from the IG. Still, shows the extent of Corruption in the current 30 years of the National Resistance Movement. How President Museveni can be proud of the system he has lead and built over the years. Take a look!
Breaching of the Leadership Code:
“In one (1) investigation it was recommended that a refund of Shs.3,480,000/= by a leader be made for using a company vehicle while he received transport allowance. A policy guideline on transport and fleet management was also recommended for the institution investigated” (IG, P: 17, 2016).
Lacking funds for the IG:
“Although Government has shown commitment to avail more resources to the institution as evidenced by the IG budget growth from Shs.13 million in 1986, Shs.3.1 billion in 1998 to Shs.35.4 billion in 2013 including donor support, the funding provision under the IG ceiling is still insufficient compared to the operational cost of investigations, prosecutions, verification of declarations and public awareness programmes” (IG, P: 33, 2016).
Government Institutions who hasn’t acted on IG recommendations:
“Alleged abuse of office and fraudulent tendering during the FY 2008/09 by MMC: The Senior Finance Officer/MMC was directed to refund. UGX 3,600,000/= being half of the money misappropriated to IG Assets Recovery A/C in BoU and thereafter present evidence for deposit to the IG failure of which she would be prosecuted in Courts of Law” (IG, P: 38, 2016).
“Alleged abuse of office by the Ag. PPO, Sembabule District: Mr. Turyarugayo Monday was directed, within three months, to refund Shs.4,890,804/= to IG A/C in BoU, which he irregularly earned in salaries for no work done” (IG, P: 38, 2016).
“Alleged abuse of office and mismanagement of a contract to extend council block by Lyantonde district officials: Submit Mr. Christopher Okumu to the DSC for appropriate disciplinary action for advancing Shs.150,000,000/= to M/S Bakaruma Contractors Ltd” (IG, P: 39, 2016).
“Alleged embezzlement of Shs.3,092,691/= meant for villages and 5% for Parishes in the FY 2010/2011 by the former Sub-Accountant Rubaya S/C In Mbarara: The Accountant should pay Shs.3,092,691/= within sixty days to the IG Assets Recovery Account with Bank of Uganda failure to do so will lead to tougher action being taken against him” (IG, P: 40, 2016).
“Alleged abuse of office and mismanagement of funds worth Shs.14,000,000/= by Kazo Town Council: The CAO Kiruhura should submit the Physical Planner Kazo to the DSC for disciplinary action for false accounting of Shs.2,000,000/= and failure to account for Shs.4,096,000/=. The Physical Planner ordered to pay Shs.6,096,000/= to IG Assets Recovery Account within 60 days. The Senior Physical Planner, Ministry of Lands directed to refund Shs.2,250,000/= received for facilitation for the work he did not do” (IG, P: 40, 2016).
“Alleged judicial misconduct and bribery by the Chief Magistrate Ibanda Court: The Chief Registrar Courts of Judicature should submit the Chief Magistrate to the disciplinary committee of the Judiciary for disciplinary proceedings and he should refund Shs.13,154,000/= to the Judiciary” (IG, P: 42, 2016).
“Alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of CDD funds by Busiisi Division Officials: Town Clerk to recover Shs.1,800,000/= being funds for Agahikaine Kibingo group that was put to personal use” (IG, P: 42, 2016).
“Alleged mismanagement and abuse of office by the Headteacher of Rukondwa Primary School in Masindi: Letter issued to Head teacher directing him to refund Shs.470,000/= through Assets Recovery Account being money he misappropriated as Headteacher of Rukondwa Primary School between 2004 and 2006” (IG, P: 43, 2016).
“Alleged forgery and impersonation of a teacher at Nyanja P/S in Rakai District: The teacher was directed to refund a total of Shs.19,579,287/= within 90 days with effect from 13/05/2015 which he illegally earned in salaries masquerading as a teacher who had left the teaching service in 2005/2006” (IG, P:43, 2016).
“Alleged embezzlement of Shs.85,000,000/= from Malaba Town Council: The CAO, Tororo was directed to submit the name of the former acting Town Clerk, Malaba Town Council and currently Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Tororo to the DSC for appropriate disciplinary action for spending revenue earned from property tax, contrary to section 37 (2) and (3) of the Local Government Rating Act, 2005” (IG, P: 44, 2016)
People arrested by the IG:
“Hon. Abraham James Byandala, Minister without Portfolio: Abuse of office, Influence peddling, Disobedience of lawful orders” (…)”Asiku Ben, Accounts Assistant, Yumbe District Local Council: Embezzlement, abuse of office, forgery” (…) “Kiddu Ssali Bonny, former Chairman LC III, Lukaya Town Council & Luyimbazi James, former Town Clerk, Lukaya Town Council: Abuse of Office” (IG, P: 58 & 59).
People Concluded Prosecution cases:
“Wanyaka Samuel, Director Parliamentary Budget Office: Convicted on all the counts and sentenced to ten years in prison. He was further ordered to refund Ug. Shs.822,965,000/= which he stole” (IG, P: 61).
This here is just key aspects of the Report, not the whole one, but show’s how certain levels of corruption are and how it is taken. The smaller ones and the ones that are not important can be questioned and asked for refund. The others are being equitted or using long trial time to hopefully be forgotten.
There in the smaller district centrals and provincial towns where the cases are in North, West and East, but very little in the Central parts of Uganda; which is seem a little bit weird as the Central Government institutions are in Kampala and the teachers and supervisors that are taken to the Inspector General of Government are further in the districts. Not that I can believe the Ministries and Central Government is clean, as this report even at one point claim:
“Kalungi Robert, Principal Inspectorate Officer, Inspectorate of Government: Soliciting and receiving gratification; Convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment on each count” (IG, P: 62, 2016). When even the Government body working to uncover corruption and graft are soaked in it as one of their own are taken doing the deed. Then the Central Government has to have an issue, not only Principals at Primary Schools in Mbarara, but also at Ministry of Sports and Culture.
The pride of the nation is not at stake, this is the ordinary, the normal and expected. The word of warning come and goes from time to time. Still, the validity of these claims is strong and shows the level of corruption. This is surely the same in 2016, as it was the last 6 months in 2015. Even more during the campaign of the NRM and General Election usually flamboyant spending from the Government; this is towards the folks and extent the boundaries of corrupt behavior to get the citizens to drop ballots in good faith.
So we can look forward to the next report if it is censored by the Central Government, that wouldn’t be surprising. So we can see if the IG get the ability to drop more stories or if the creative NRM will hide the corrupt behavior.
The ones coming here is not a good look as the small and minor, even bigger institutions has corrupted and abused their office for their own gain. This is a giant problem and comes from the top that doesn’t serve the civil servants and also often doesn’t allocate the needed salaries on time. That makes the civil servants creative to get the needed funds. The Government of Uganda got work to do, but as long as the NRM and their Mzee leads the realm I am sure there will be more of the same, because that fits him just fine. Peace.
Reference:
Inspectorate of Government – ‘Report to Parliament July to December 2015’ (27.05.2016) ‘Kakooza, Irene Mulyagonja the Inspector General of Government (IGG)
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