Religious leaders plead for aid

By Andrew Ssenyonga    

Religious leaders have asked donor countries not to withdraw aid from programmes affected by the recent corruption allegations in office of Prime’s Minister (OPM) .

The acting Chairperson Inter Religious Council Uganda (IRCU) sheikh Ali Waiswa advised that the aid to poverty eradication programmes should be channeled through other avenues in the country.

“We recommend that rather than cut aid to the programmes affected by recent OPM saga, they should explore other avenues such as the religious based organisation and the civil society organisation for channeling the aid to the poverty stricken areas of Northern Uganda and Karamoja,” Waiswa explained.

Waiswa made the remarks during a press conference on ethical leadership and the challenge of endemic corruption that was organised by the council at their offices in Namirembe on Monday.

Waiswa noted that the disadvantaged people of northern Uganda and Karamoja have been made vulnerable by the years of war and civil strife, cutting aid off them would be a setback to their development.

“These are people whose welfare and re-integration into the bigger Ugandan society requires the continued support from the donor aid and sacrifice of every sane Ugandan,” Waiswa said.

The secretary general to the council, Joshua Kitakule asked government to demonstrate unquestionable and sufficient commitment in the fight against corruption.