Opposition slams govt over graft
Jul 05, 2009
THE opposition has attacked the Government over failure to stop corruption.
By Vision Reporters
THE opposition has attacked the Government over failure to stop corruption.
In a response to President Yoweri Museveni’s State-of-the-Nation Address read in June, the leader of opposition in Parliament, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, on Thursday also scoffed at remarks by top government officials that Acholi leaders were restarting a rebellion in northern Uganda.
He stated that the President had ended the “diversionary practice of blaming the opposition for the NRM failures.
Latigo delivered his address in Parliament.
He said the opposition would not do anything to undermine the wellbeing of the country.
“The relentless effort by the NRM to hold on to state power and our equal pursuit of the same will raise the levels of exposure, arguments and competition and even tempt some to act above board, recklessly, brutally and extra-judicially,†he remarked.
Latigo noted that given the Government’s limited capacity to supervise departments amid the high level corruption, creating many projects in preparation for the 2011 general elections was creating an opportunity for shoddy work and corruption.
He said the President’s address did not tackle the state of politics and plans to improve the electoral atmosphere.
“His body language and off-the-cuff comments were those of a man satisfied with what he knows that his opponents do not know,†he remarked.
Latigo also castigated the President for being silent about the drought and hunger that is gripping much of the country.
“The President’s address was long on the hardware (the material things) but short on the software (the state and feeling of the peopleâ€,†he stated.
Latigo, however, supported the Government’s plan to develop the road network, but cautioned against rushing it for political reasons.
“It should be preceded by proper planning, the revamping and building of local capacity and a comprehensive review of the way in which the Ministry of Works has handled the sector,†he noted.
“We are concerned that more money has been allocated to the ministry yet Parliament has not yet received a report on how over sh1 trillion allocated for roads last year was used.â€
Commenting on peace and security, he expressed concern about statements by government officials implicating Acholi leaders in a reported new rebel group.
“We know that some military and political leaders benefited financially and politically from Joseph Kony’s LRA war. The recent expenditure of nearly sh40b in two months during Operation Lightning Thunder are testimonies of how the vampires have lived off the blood of our people,†he said.
“We also know the politics behind allegations of renewed rebellion and why they are targeting the church and the opposition,†Latigo charged.
“You will recall the beating of Acholi parliamentarians in 2004 in the name of security and the arrest of others later on an allegation of murder, when the real issue was politics.â€
The people of Northern Uganda, Latigo warned, would respond resolutely to any attempt to undermine their leaders and the peace that they dearly sacrificed for.
He deplored the drought and hunger in Karamoja.
He criticised the Government for failure to resolve the Inspector General of Government saga, the Temangalo-NSSF saga and for harassing opposition.
On energy, Latigo said he was happy the Government had accepted to build a redesigned Karuma hydropower dam with a capacity of 700 megawatts.
He said the opposition was relieved that the Government had started to tread carefully on oil issues.
Latigo urged the Government to reduce airtime tax. He also called for reforms in the Universal Primary Education programme.
THE opposition has attacked the Government over failure to stop corruption.
In a response to President Yoweri Museveni’s State-of-the-Nation Address read in June, the leader of opposition in Parliament, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, on Thursday also scoffed at remarks by top government officials that Acholi leaders were restarting a rebellion in northern Uganda.
He stated that the President had ended the “diversionary practice of blaming the opposition for the NRM failures.
Latigo delivered his address in Parliament.
He said the opposition would not do anything to undermine the wellbeing of the country.
“The relentless effort by the NRM to hold on to state power and our equal pursuit of the same will raise the levels of exposure, arguments and competition and even tempt some to act above board, recklessly, brutally and extra-judicially,†he remarked.
Latigo noted that given the Government’s limited capacity to supervise departments amid the high level corruption, creating many projects in preparation for the 2011 general elections was creating an opportunity for shoddy work and corruption.
He said the President’s address did not tackle the state of politics and plans to improve the electoral atmosphere.
“His body language and off-the-cuff comments were those of a man satisfied with what he knows that his opponents do not know,†he remarked.
Latigo also castigated the President for being silent about the drought and hunger that is gripping much of the country.
“The President’s address was long on the hardware (the material things) but short on the software (the state and feeling of the peopleâ€,†he stated.
Latigo, however, supported the Government’s plan to develop the road network, but cautioned against rushing it for political reasons.
“It should be preceded by proper planning, the revamping and building of local capacity and a comprehensive review of the way in which the Ministry of Works has handled the sector,†he noted.
“We are concerned that more money has been allocated to the ministry yet Parliament has not yet received a report on how over sh1 trillion allocated for roads last year was used.â€
Commenting on peace and security, he expressed concern about statements by government officials implicating Acholi leaders in a reported new rebel group.
“We know that some military and political leaders benefited financially and politically from Joseph Kony’s LRA war. The recent expenditure of nearly sh40b in two months during Operation Lightning Thunder are testimonies of how the vampires have lived off the blood of our people,†he said.
“We also know the politics behind allegations of renewed rebellion and why they are targeting the church and the opposition,†Latigo charged.
“You will recall the beating of Acholi parliamentarians in 2004 in the name of security and the arrest of others later on an allegation of murder, when the real issue was politics.â€
The people of Northern Uganda, Latigo warned, would respond resolutely to any attempt to undermine their leaders and the peace that they dearly sacrificed for.
He deplored the drought and hunger in Karamoja.
He criticised the Government for failure to resolve the Inspector General of Government saga, the Temangalo-NSSF saga and for harassing opposition.
On energy, Latigo said he was happy the Government had accepted to build a redesigned Karuma hydropower dam with a capacity of 700 megawatts.
He said the opposition was relieved that the Government had started to tread carefully on oil issues.
Latigo urged the Government to reduce airtime tax. He also called for reforms in the Universal Primary Education programme.