No orders from above in the fight against corruption - Nakalema

Dec 02, 2020

No orders from above in the fight against corruption - Nakalema

Abbey Ramadhan
Journalist @New Vision

STATE HOUSE | ANTI-CORRUPTION | UNIT

KAMPALA - The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) head Lt Col Edith Nakalema, has rebuked the corrupt hiding under the ‘orders from above'.

Nakalema encouraged the public to continue to name, expose, and shame the corrupt as this is the only way to fight the vice of Corruption in the Country.

"In fighting corruption, there are no orders from above as others allege and no one is above the law. When you involve in corruption, then you have to face the law," Nakalema warned.

She noted that many people say that the SHACU is going out for small fish in fighting Corruption, "But there is no small fish or big fish as long as all are involved in embalmment of Government funds." 

Nakalema was speaking while meeting top Vision Group management in appreciation for the good work that has enabled the SHACU Unit to record success.

Nakalema (L) chats with Barbara Kaija, Editor in Chief Vision Group before the meeting with top management of Vision Group.


The SHACU boss also applauded Ugandans for their spirit in the fight against corruption. "In order to fight corruption, everybody needs to be involved."

Nakalema said since President Museveni launched a social media campaign to expose the corrupt, the unit has recorded great success.

She disclosed that the unit previously used to record 180-200 cases per day but it has increased to 270-300 cases due to awareness.

Out of 60,000 cases reported half of them are land cases.

Nakalema disclosed that the Unit has recovered over sh24.52b and arraigned in courts law at least 248 people, who have allegedly involved in corrupt practices. (Credit: Ramadhan Abbey)


She however disclosed some challenges that the Unit faces and among these is impostors who purport to be SHACU workers, whereas not, witnesses fear and not willing to appear in courts of law to pin suspects, among others.

Nakalema disclosed that the Unit has recovered over sh24.52b and arraigned in courts law at least 248 people, who have allegedly been involved in corrupt practices.

Out of 248 people, 185 are public officers. A total of 90 have been interdicted from the public service while 24 have already been convicted and sentenced by courts of law.

(L-R) Gervase Ndyanabo, deputy Managing Director Vision Group chats Nakalema as Peace Kabatangare, the Chief Internal Auditor Vision Group looks on.


She also added that the unit has recorded 60,000 complaints and 500 Ugandans have been repatriated from foreign countries. 

"Out of total recoveries, at least sh24.52b was saved following investigations into several government projects and private transactions involving innocent Ugandans including inflated COVID-19 government relief food prices, where sh8.65bn was saved,'' she noted.

Others include sh3.6bn inflated compensation of Bukasa Inland Port Project Affected Persons (PAPs), sh8.38bn increased profitability of Post Bank Uganda, and also intervened in the running of the Gaming and Lotteries Board, where cash recoveries totaling to sh700M was saved.

Also, sh1.4b, which had been extorted from innocent youth seeking jobs in the Middle East by the labor externalisation or export companies, was recovered after they were forced to refund the money and Jinja local Government sh120m.

Nakalema (R) meeting top Management of Vision Group.


Nakalema however called upon schools at all levels to establish Corruption Clubs where children need to shape their morals and integrity from a tender age to turn them into responsible people of society.

"Corruption starts from the families, school and high institution then to communities so if those debating clubs are introduced, it will help in the fight against corruption in Uganda," she advised.

During the meeting, Felix Osike, the News Manager and Current Affairs Hub called for a systematic way of protecting wittiness as many people may fear reporting the corrupt.

Among the top management who attended the meeting include were Barbara Kaija, the Editor in Chief Vision Group, Hellen Mukiibi, News Editor NewVision, Geoffrey Kulubya, and Managing Editor Regional Papers, Peace Kabatangare Chief Internal Auditor Vision Group and David Mukholi, the Managing Editor at Vision Group, among others.

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