President Yoweri Museveni has condemned corruption in public institutions, urging citizens to consistently seek accountability.
In his statement marking the International Anti-Corruption Coalition, the President called upon the private sector, professional organizations, media, civil society, religious leaders, cultural institutions, and all Ugandans to engage actively in the battle against corruption.
“Let us all move beyond the practice of decrying the prevalence of corruption within Government and join hands in doing what each one of us can do to eradicate this vice from our society,” he noted.
He stressed that it is important that all members of the public are moved to the point where the high awareness levels “we have today on corruption, translate into action against it”.
“This means not participating in corrupt practices even where they seem small and insignificant,” he added.
He urged Ugandans not to shy away from reporting incidences of corruption and giving evidence in courts against the suspects.
“Therefore, it is my clarion call to all citizens to demand accountability from their leaders and report incidences of corruption to the Anti-Corruption Agencies. The war on corruption requires concerted effort from all stakeholders. Individual failure and inaction will be our collective failure as citizens,” he noted.
The President expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of the Anti-Corruption Agencies alongside various State and Non-State Actors, highlighting their strong dedication to realizing the vision of Zero Tolerance for corruption and upholding Anti-Corruption legislation.
“As you all know, there is a strong connection between services being offered by government and corruption incidences occurring. Indeed, corruption is prevalent where government services are in great demand by the people. Therefore, to be effective in fighting corruption, I call upon Anti-Corruption Agencies to map out all the critical public services that are demanded by citizens on regular basis and to identify the Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Local Governments that are high risk and prone to corruption. Once this is done, appropriate strategies to fight corruption and unethical practices should be developed,” Museveni added.
He said this should include digitizing delivery of services to minimize face to face interactions; strengthening internal and external audit; monitoring of government projects such Parish Development Model, road construction etc., to ensure effective execution; strengthening mechanisms for involving the people in fighting corruption and inculcating the culture of integrity in homes, schools, churches, businesses and public sector agencies.
“Let us continue to build a society that is transparent, accountable and just, a society where corruption is not tolerated and where everyone has access to opportunities and public resources,” he added.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Promoting Effective Participation of the Youth in the War Against Corruption”.
The focus highlights the crucial involvement of youth in the fight against corruption, promoting transparency, and establishing a future grounded in integrity.
President Museveni stated that the government is deeply dedicated to eradicating corruption in Uganda.
“As you all aware, our unwavering commitment to combat corruption dates back to the liberation struggle during the Bush War, where we articulated the need for accountability and integrity under the Ten-Point Programme of the National Resistance Movement (NRM),” he noted.
He further noted that point Number 7 of the programme emphasized the elimination of corruption and the misuse of power, recognizing these as critical barriers to national development and good governance.
“It should be noted that the country has made remarkable strides in strengthening the legal and institutional anti-corruption framework, key international and regional conventions have been ratified, demonstrating Uganda’s firm commitment to combating corruption at all levels,” he added.
He observed that the NRM Manifesto for 2021–2026 further solidifies this commitment, prioritizing Zero Tolerance to corruption.
He stressed that this is a clear testament to the resolution to ensure that Uganda achieves its development goals.
The NRM Government issued 23 Presidential Directives, among which Directive No. 5 specifically focuses on intensifying the fight against corruption.
The Government also committed to strengthen the capacity of Anti-Corruption Agencies to effectively and efficiently handle the fight against corruption under the National Development Plan IV.
President Museveni said the country is implementing Vision 2040 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He added that the development plans aim at transforming Uganda into a middle-income status, providing a high quality life to citizens by the year 2040.
However, he noted that although Uganda is blessed with numerous natural resources, a relatively well developed infrastructure, an educated youth and hardworking workforce as well as its strategic location in the region, nothing can be achieved without eradicating corruption.
“This day, recognized globally on December 9th, was established through United Nations General Assembly Resolution 58/4 on October 31, 2003. Uganda commemorating this day demonstrates our commitment to the global fight against corruption and to the principles of integrity, accountability and transparency,” he added.
The president observed that corruption undermines the rule of law, erodes trust in public institutions and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, especially the young people who make up about 78% of Uganda’s population.
“Rising incidences of corruption in Uganda have increasingly drawn public attention, sparking discussions in the media and among citizens. If not addressed, corruption may hinder the achievement of Vision 2040 and other development goals,” he added.
He stressed that Uganda can only succeed only if it has a public service that manages public resources prudently and ethically and which operates efficiently.
He urged Ugandans to be cautious on how public resources are used to ensure the development goals are achieved as envisaged.
