Reactions to Cheeye’s conviction

Apr 08, 2009

THE deputy Inspector General of Government, Raphael Baku, yesterday said sentencing Teddy Cheeye to jail was a landmark decision.

By Cyprian Musoke
and Madinah Tebajjukira


THE deputy Inspector General of Government, Raphael Baku, yesterday said sentencing Teddy Cheeye to jail was a landmark decision.

Commenting on the conviction of the director of economic monitoring in the Internal Security Organisation by the Anti-Corruption Court, Baku said: “They have been too lenient, but today I feel confident that corruption will be wiped out.”

The State Minister for Primary Health Care, James Kakooza, said the conviction would be a relief to the Government.

“The World Health Organisation has been putting the Government under pressure to act,” he said.

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative director Livingstone Ssewanyana said it was regrettable that Cheeye, a former anti-corruption crusader, was the first to be convicted by the court.

Uganda Debt Network executive director Patrick Tumwebaze said: “We have been waiting for convictions. There are issues like selective prosecution, which must be worked on. Scandals like Temangalo have gone un-prosecuted. It is like one step forward and one backward,” he said.
Forum for Democratic Change spokesman Wafula Oguttu said the precedent should apply to other public officers, who use public funds for personal gain.
Public accounts committee vice-chairman Ssebuliba Mutumba said the conviction was a sign that the process of weeding out corruption would not spare anybody.

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, said the conviction was not fair because there were big wigs, who he said had committed worse crimes, but had not been punished.

Ethics and integrity minister Dr. James Nsaba Buturo said the conviction showed the Government’s commitment to fighting corruption.

Local government accounts committee chairman Abdu Katuntu said it was a bad ending for Cheeye.

Shadow attorney general minister Erias Lukwago said: “Much as I don’t condone corruption, I don’t believe in harsh punishment. It is unfair. You cannot sentence Kazini to three years and then Cheeye to 10.”

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