CJ urges permanent secretaries on corruption fight

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has urged the permanent secretaries in government ministries and departments not only to shun corruption but also to champion the fight against it to avoid trouble.

Owiny-Dollo rendered the advice to the permanent secretaries while presiding over their sumptuous and colourful end-of-year dinner at the magnificent Supreme Court conference hall on Friday, December 20.

“You should not only refuse to be corrupt but also fight corruption. So much of corruption is attributed to you but most of the times you are innocent but it is because you sit back and you don’t fight it,” Owiny-Dollo said.

Owiny-Dollo wondered what government officials benefit by stealing government money and using it to buy several properties and living a luxurious life.

“I really don’t understand why someone can steal government money and use it to buy land in Kololo, Mengo and many other places. Why would you mix your hard earned money with dirty money?” he said.

Appreciating the Judiciary permanent secretary/secretary to the Judiciary, Dr Pius Bigirimana for his role in ensuring the realisation of the Appellate courts twin tower buildings which have become a centre of benchmark for other judiciaries in Africa, Owiny-Dollo said it is not common for government departments to make the type of saving the Judiciary has done.

Judiciary permanent secretary/secretary to the Judiciary Dr Pius Bigirimana and Chief Registrar Sarah Langa dancing at the function.

Owiny-Dollo said corruption in the public service is largely caused by unscrupulous technical people saying they come with figures and confuse everybody.

“When the construction of this building (Court Twin Tower building) started, I told Bigirimana that if I hear any kind of corruption whoever is behind it would go to jail no matter whoever he or she might be. He followed up and at the end these twin towers were finalised. I believe this can be done by each of you. You just need to know that this is your own money, why would you cause loss of your own money,” Owiny-Dollo said.

As permanent secretaries, Owiny-Dollo said they hold a very important position in the government and they should safeguard against the waste of taxpayers’ money.

“You are a fulcrum in government, why would you allow taxpayers' money to be wasted?  We have this and when the President was here, he was visibly happy. I will be very happy to hear somebody else has done what has been done here,” Owiny-Dollo said.

On a lighter note, Owiny-Dollo said he gives a lot of respect for people working in public service because things they do move methodically unlike in the private sector where things are done instantly.

Underscoring the importance of a strong public service, Owiny-Dollo remarked that without it, the country may have 1,000 industries but moving nowhere.

“You are the people that make the country tick and it is for this that it will be sad in the same vein that you are the one who destroyed the country. Because of your experience, we now talk of mergers. We have tried many ways of managing the country and now we have mergers. They are not merging ministries but the try-and-error institutions,” Owiny-Dollo explained.

Owiny-Dollo said civil service depends on who is in the public service noting that there are things that need to be done differently to transform Uganda’s public service.

Commending them for their good writing skills and persuasiveness, Owiny-Dollo implored the permanent secretaries to use the same as a point of strength.

“Please, help the ministers and the head of the institutions you are serving to go very far,” Owiny-Dollo said.

He said he is going to issue an internal memo allowing the permanent secretaries to always use the Supreme Court conference hall for their end-of-year dinner.

Head of Public Service Lucy Nakyobe interacting with some of the permanent secretaries.

Lucy Nakyobe, the public service head and secretary to Cabinet drawing the court twin tower buildings which they toured before the dinner underscored the need for accountability and value for resources.

“This newly constructed court building is a testament of what we can achieve if we commit to service. I thank the Chief Justice and Bigirimana for the commitment,” Nakyobe said.

Nakyobe said the Judiciary plays an important role in upholding the rule of law in the country, thanking Owiny-Dollo for steering it into the right direction.

In regard to the performance of the public service, Nakyobe said it has made remarkable progress in some areas like timely delivery, and cost-effective solutions that have been laid out in a number of sectors, strengthened collaborations, and some innovation among others.

“Let’s us also not forget and recognise that there is still a lot to achieve. The demand from the public continues to grow every day, and expectations from citizens continue to swell. It is our responsibility to meet them,” Nakyobe said.

Nakyobe thanked the permanent secretaries for their unwavering commitment to the public service urging them to recommit to the public service values of integrity, accountability and transparency.

Concerning the end-of-year dinner, Nakyobe said it provides them an opportunity to reflect on achievements and challenges faced in the previous year and devise new strategies for serving better.

Speaking at the chairperson organising committee, Dustan Balaba, the permanent secretary in the office of the Prime Minister (OPM) revealed that each permanent secretary contributed sh5m in organising the function after they agreed to have it to relieve stress after a year of hard work.

“As we prepare for 2025, I remember what the President raised while meeting us at the Commonwealth Resort Hotel in Munyonyo and it should be an issue for us to address.

He asked, "What are we administering, it should be our take home?” Balaba said.

Speaking as a host, Bigirimana revealed the now revered court twin tower building was finished in three years and 11 months.

“Construction of these twin tower buildings cost us sh115b meaning each tower was like sh58b including internal designs and there were no variations. As a result of having this, we have saved government sh6b in rent and we shall save more because we no longer go to hotels,” Bigirimana said.

The Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu said the court twin building has made the Ugandan judiciary a jurisdiction of choice with many other judiciaries coming to benchmark from it.

Dr Asuman Lukwago, the secretary to the Education Service Commission who moderated the function underscored the need for Africans to reset themselves as Africans in terms of music.

Some of the permanent secretaries present at the function included Dr Rose Nassali Lukwago, Robert Kasande, Dr Aminah Zawedde, Hajji Yunus Kakande, Ben Kumumanya, Doreen Katusiime, Alex Kakooza, Linnet Bagonza, Waiswa Baligeya, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, Maj Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama among others.