The former Inspector General of Government (IGG), Augustine Ruzindana, who served as the country’s top anti-corruption official, has raised concerns over the government’s handling of corruption in Uganda, highlighting the public’s growing disillusionment with the government’s efforts in fighting the vice.
Ruzindana made these remarks while appearing on local television to discuss President Museveni’s stance on finally cracking the whip on corrupt government officials. He expressed the public’s skepticism about the president’s commitment to tackling the longstanding issue.
“People are very skeptical because corruption has become a very big problem and something is not being done about it, which should be done,” Ruzindana said.
The former IGG emphasized that the fight against corruption is an executive matter, as corruption is a crime that the government is responsible for addressing, and President Museveni has got to take action, drawing a parallel to the fate of South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), which he believes failed to secure a majority vote due to perceptions of corruption.
“When people feel like the government has failed to address corruption, they punish it; that can happen here,” Ruzindana cautioned.
Ruzindana underlined the political consequences that the Ugandan government might face if it fails to tackle the issue effectively.
He traced the roots of the problem, citing that corruption increased after the privatization programs’ implementation.
“At our time, the problem was not as big as it is now. Corruption is currently everywhere,” he lamented.
Recognizing collective responsibility in combating corruption, he stated that everyone has a stake in fighting the vice because it affects the whole populace.
These sentiments echo the growing calls for a sustained and comprehensive effort to address the systemic challenges posed by graft in Uganda. As the government faces mounting pressure to take decisive action, the question remains: will President Museveni pay attention to the warnings and finally crack down on the persistent corruption that has weighed down the nation for years?
