Patriotism is the best therapy for the rampant corruption cancer in Uganda

OPINION

Beatrice Bananuka

From time immemorial efforts have been made by leaders in this county to combat corruption. To cite examples the prevention of corruption act of 1970 was intended to provide for effectual prevention of corruption.

Several military coup d'états that have taken place have cited corruption as a major issue in their take over in power.

A case in point is of how H.E Iddi Amin Dada deposed Dr. Apollo Milton Obote in the 1971 coup d'état citing corruption among other reasons. Even then, corruption did not cease and the cancer has still continued.

Similarly, the NRM/NRA also came in power in 1986 with a vision of fighting corruption as indicated in its ten point programme.

Since then strategies have been put in place to fight corruption among which include: establishment of the office of Inspector General of Government, then the 1992 leadership code of conduct act was passed to strengthen the fight against corruption.

In 1995 the constitution of the Republic of Uganda was promulgated and the Inspectorate of Government was established as a constitutional body (chap 13) and its mandate was modified.

Just recently we read that government plans to spend about sh117.7b to implement the new zero tolerance to corruption policy and stem the vice. All these anti-graft policies are coming up because corruption has remained one of Uganda's biggest challenges.

In this strive to combat this vice, I strongly believe that a culture of integrity, patriotism and accountability ought to be inculcated into Ugandans right from homes to schools before citizens join different fields of work.

This change in moral character will be a sine qua non in effecting the fight against corruption, a disease that has lived on for ages.

Corruption refers to all behaviour which deviates from the established known and generally accepted ethics, morals, traditions, laws and civic values and virtues of society.

It is so unfortunate that many people only put the blame on politicians when they reason that it's only leaders who can be corrupt.

However, each one of us can be lured into corruption if not properly brought up. We've heard of cases of marks scandals in institutions of higher learning, dodging work among employees, petty theft cases, irregularities in job recruitment, malpractices in examinations, name them.

All those are clear cases of corruption. This explains why all and sundry ought to participate in the fight against this unfortunate vice that not only affects the economy of the country but also  has a very adverse impact on the social well-being of all of us. 

Education is a very important aspect in life that has ability to change perspectives of people, right from childhood to adulthood.

Therefore since education forms the person of the learner, there is need to diffuse /inject young people with dozes of ethical values in this same education in the entire process of shaping young ones into responsible citizens. Education is one of the critical pillars in fighting corruption.

With knowledge and skills acquired through education people get to know the evils and consequences of corruption. Schools have a duty to inculcate anti- corruption values among learners right from pre- primary as part of the culture.

It is for this reason that patriotism clubs have been established in secondary schools to instil such values.

These clubs have ability to instil in these learners feelings of responsibility and attachment to their motherland and it's these feelings that have an awe-inspiring effect to groom people with aspects of honesty, truthfulness and love for others before selves.  A citizen who truly loves their country cannot betray it through acts of corruption.

The writer is the Assistant Commissioner at The National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps.

Office of the President Uganda