THE Ethics and integrity state minister, Dr. Nsaba Buturo, has called for tough action against corrupt public officials. Buturo warned that if the country does not act against corruption, “we are all going to suffer.”
“Should everything else fail, the country should consider the Chinese style of the firing squad,” he said.
Handing over prizes to 24 health officials at the old court hall in Bugiri on Saturday, Buturo called for heavy punishment to health officials who steal drugs.
“Why should someone joke with people’s lives by stealing drugs meant to benefit thousands of people?” he wondered.
The corrupt officials who are imprisoned, he added, return after acquiring bail and carry out their bad habits.
Buturo noted that it’s not poverty but the inner feelings of a person right from childhood that forces people to steal.
He observed that if the available resources were used genuinely, there would not be need for donor funds to run government programmes.
Buturo said the Government had come up with the Whistle Blowers Bill to safeguard the rights of people who provide information about corrupt officials.
Bugiri resident district commissioner Margaret Mwanamoiza said the district had been hit by a racket of corrupt health officials, who steal drugs.
During the past two months, Mwanamoiza added, we got reports that drugs worth sh34m had been stolen from health centress in Banda, Buluguyi and Buhemba sub-counties.
She said the Police was investigating the matter and promised to hand over the culprits to relevant authorities for disciplinary action.
The prizes offered to the health officials included Radio cassette players and Bicycles that were donated by the Uganda Debt Network.
The senior programme officer, Uganda Debt Network, Martha Nangobe, said the annual awards were meant for officials who demonstrate high ethical values.
