Two tricky events happened in Uganda a few days ago. The first one was the unprecedented triumph of Quinn Brenda Abenakyo, the Miss Uganda who becomes the first Miss Uganda- Africa, important boost for Uganda’s foreign visitors’ numbers.
The second event almost over shadowed the Miss World- Africa, excitement was the Movie-like Anti-corruption week which was a real embarrassing bhang of its own and at the climax of which President Museveni for the first time also said people are now fed up with corruption and no longer interested in listening to long speeches on graft.
The President also unveiled a new graft combat unit under my young sister and senior army officer fresh from senior staff Command College in the United States Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema based at State House, Entebbe which to me is a prudent addition and action which qualifies the popular saying that “A candle loses nothing lighting another candle.”
However, attitude change is the immediate requirement by the masses which is possible only when accompanied with tough political commitment and sanctions. The other question that many citizens ask is; why too much religion in Uganda with no corresponding honesty?
The Anti-corruption week came at a time when Uganda was everywhere in the international media that foreign minister Sam Kahamba Kuteesa (supposedly the country’s chief diplomat) was accused to have taken a bribe, while Bank of Uganda Governor, his deputy, their former commercial banks monitor/ supervisor, Ms. Justine Bagyenda are on the red carpet at parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) where they are failing to prove their competences.
Another A-class, movie-like case is that of cruel Medard Kiconco in concert with cruel court officials and cruel uniformed agencies backed by forgeries, demolished and evicted over 300 households (over 1000 persons) in Kyandondo East in Wakiso District some of whom have died because of living in unfavorable conditions.
I propose that cases like this be classified as terrorism and prosecuted as such and not corruption.
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) earlier in the year was on spot for refugee numbers manipulation and lately in fraudulent procurement (buying land and wetlands from non owners) of landslides victims’ land in Bulambuli District. The Justine Bagyenda controversy has left and put the dignity of women folk under disrepute because women have in the past times been commended by society as reliable, upright, dignified and incorruptible species. While the President also proposed that he would now engage the Speaker of the national assembly and chief justice to have a law in place to confiscate corrupt peoples’ wealth (money and property), I still believe this was sugar coating because the former member of parliament of Makindye East Mr. John Simbwa in the 9th parliament brought the same private members’ bill which was brutally shot down by our own National Resistance Movement (NRM) caucus which he personally chaired. It is like one who admires a good pair of socks and buys them when he/she has not yet bought shoes.
Nabendeh S.P Wamoto. (0776658433)
Email: simonwamoto@yahoo.co.uk
