Crimes should not be politicised
May 23, 2007
IT is becoming a depressingly common phenomenon in Uganda. As soon as somebody is accused of corruption or any other crime, forces will emerge from different corners to politicise the case and turn it against the investigator or complainant.<br>
IT is becoming a depressingly common phenomenon in Uganda. As soon as somebody is accused of corruption or any other crime, forces will emerge from different corners to politicise the case and turn it against the investigator or complainant.
The objective is clear: to intimidate and malign the complainant, make investigating crimes increasingly risky and difficult and ultimately, for the suspect, to get off the hook and continue with the wrongdoing or enjoy the fruits of it.
It was, therefore, a disturbing sight to see politicians from different parties rush to the CID headquarters and Luzira Prison to pledge their solidarity and support to the former ministers accused of misappropriating immunisation funds.
Solidarity in what? Support for what? Government and opposition figures, who have been crying foul about rampant corruption in Uganda, are now seen rallying behind suspects of alleged abuse of public funds.
During the subsequent debates in Parliament, MPs focused more on the manner and so-called ‘selectivity’ of the arrests than the root of the matter: that hundreds of millions of public funds, meant for vaccination programmes, were pocketed by private individuals who did not account for them, or handed in forged receipts for workshops which never took place.
When protesting the escape of the so-called ‘big fish’, why did they not question those who allowed Muhwezi to go, even after the IGG report – extensively published in The New Vision – implicated him in abuse of funds and recommended his arrest?
Politicians, particularly MPs, should not be seen condoning corruption. They should support the President and the Government institutions in the risky and difficult undertaking of holding people accountable, particularly when those people are ministers responsible for huge amounts of money.
MPs should be seen defending the interests of the common people who are the real victims of the scandals involving donor funds. The time has come for those who don’t condone corruption to stand up and be counted.
The objective is clear: to intimidate and malign the complainant, make investigating crimes increasingly risky and difficult and ultimately, for the suspect, to get off the hook and continue with the wrongdoing or enjoy the fruits of it.
It was, therefore, a disturbing sight to see politicians from different parties rush to the CID headquarters and Luzira Prison to pledge their solidarity and support to the former ministers accused of misappropriating immunisation funds.
Solidarity in what? Support for what? Government and opposition figures, who have been crying foul about rampant corruption in Uganda, are now seen rallying behind suspects of alleged abuse of public funds.
During the subsequent debates in Parliament, MPs focused more on the manner and so-called ‘selectivity’ of the arrests than the root of the matter: that hundreds of millions of public funds, meant for vaccination programmes, were pocketed by private individuals who did not account for them, or handed in forged receipts for workshops which never took place.
When protesting the escape of the so-called ‘big fish’, why did they not question those who allowed Muhwezi to go, even after the IGG report – extensively published in The New Vision – implicated him in abuse of funds and recommended his arrest?
Politicians, particularly MPs, should not be seen condoning corruption. They should support the President and the Government institutions in the risky and difficult undertaking of holding people accountable, particularly when those people are ministers responsible for huge amounts of money.
MPs should be seen defending the interests of the common people who are the real victims of the scandals involving donor funds. The time has come for those who don’t condone corruption to stand up and be counted.