Set up a Corruption Amnesty Commission
Jun 18, 2007
SIR — I commend the government’s recent zero-tolerance stand on corruption. We cannot promote good governance and get rid of poverty with the cancer of corruption still in our midst. However, the government institutions that fight corruption such as the IGG’s office are inadequate and cannot â
SIR — I commend the government’s recent zero-tolerance stand on corruption. We cannot promote good governance and get rid of poverty with the cancer of corruption still in our midst. However, the government institutions that fight corruption such as the IGG’s office are inadequate and cannot ‘catch’ everyone.
Others such as the Police and Judiciary have corrupt elements among them and many a people have bribed their way to innocence. I am sure many other ministers, MPs, army officers and others in public offices are on their knees praying for their day not to come soon.
And that is why whenever the media or IGG point a finger at somebody, they always say: “Why me and not others?â€
This is because everybody seems to be corrupt or at least has been. In view of the above, I propose a cleansing exercise for all who have held or are holding public office to pave way for a fresh, corrupt-free Uganda. The President should set up a Corruption Amnesty Commission.
Anyone can then come up and declare what they ‘stole’ and the commission can decide what proportion of it should be refunded depending on the person’s wealth.
In the spirit of forgiveness, they may not be asked to refund everything since we all know some of the money is used in campaigns, bribery and to prevent prosecution or shared with the ‘big men’.
The commission should be decentralised to district level so that even the parish chief can confess their wrong-doing. After this cleansing everyone should be corrupt-free and hopefully we will have more responsible leaders.
Joseph Kobusheshe University of Nottingham
Others such as the Police and Judiciary have corrupt elements among them and many a people have bribed their way to innocence. I am sure many other ministers, MPs, army officers and others in public offices are on their knees praying for their day not to come soon.
And that is why whenever the media or IGG point a finger at somebody, they always say: “Why me and not others?â€
This is because everybody seems to be corrupt or at least has been. In view of the above, I propose a cleansing exercise for all who have held or are holding public office to pave way for a fresh, corrupt-free Uganda. The President should set up a Corruption Amnesty Commission.
Anyone can then come up and declare what they ‘stole’ and the commission can decide what proportion of it should be refunded depending on the person’s wealth.
In the spirit of forgiveness, they may not be asked to refund everything since we all know some of the money is used in campaigns, bribery and to prevent prosecution or shared with the ‘big men’.
The commission should be decentralised to district level so that even the parish chief can confess their wrong-doing. After this cleansing everyone should be corrupt-free and hopefully we will have more responsible leaders.
Joseph Kobusheshe University of Nottingham