Civil society launches campaign against corruption

By Gloria Nakajubi & Moses Mulondo  

The Civil Society on Monday launched a campaign against corruption which they said would go on until Government takes action on corrupt public officials. 

Representative s of various civil society organizations converged at Uganda Manufacturing Association Hall in Nakawa dressed in black T-shirts wielding placards with anti-corruption slogans.

Leading the group, Irene Ovonji-Odida from Action Aid International Board of Trustees, said wearing black symbolized they had started mourning and mobilizing citizens to rise up against the evil of corruption.

“This is just the beginning. We shall mobilise all the citizens to rise up against the glaring rate of theft of our public funds. In this campaign, we shall sensitize the citizens about the dangers of corruption and encourage them to shun the corrupt including their businesses,” Ovonji said.

As Ovonji was speaking, those who were carrying placards kept shouting names of high ranking public officials they want to resign over corruption allegations.

They cited corruption scandals like ghost students in UPE, GAVI fund, CHOGM, Temangalo, ghost soldiers, Global Fund, KCCA, Office of the Prime Minister and Police as some of cases Government has not handled to the satisfaction of citizens.  

They appealed to all NGOs in the country who detest the level of theft of public funds to express their dissatisfaction against Government on corruption by closing their offices every first Monday of the month and join public protests against the vice.

The group also indicated they would gather ideas from various citizens from which they would write a special letter to President Museveni to take stern action on corruption.

In the action they outlined, they demanded that all officials accused of corruption should be relieved of their duties, face trial and punishment, their property be confiscated to recover what they stole, and an apology from Government for failing to fight corruption.

Their planned procession in different parts of the city was however blocked by the Police.

“We cannot allow it to go on because they did not notify us. This is a national cause which all of us should support but they need to re-organize it and work with Police,” said Kampala Metropolitan commander Andrew Kawesi.

Sophie Kyagulanyi, the Governance coordinator for Action Aid International, said: “This is no longer corruption but broad light day theft of billions of shillings. We applaud the 9th parliament for fighting corruption.”