Repay lost money

FORMER PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Prof Gastavus Senyonga has failed to repay all the money he caused to be lost in the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1996 he was jailed with his under-secretary for eight years for causing financial loss to the ministry. Last year, President Museveni pardoned Senyonga on condition that he repaid the 20 million shillings that he was personally responsible for. So far he has only repaid 5 million shillings. This is not good enough. Top officials must be accountable in Uganda. Senyonga is the only Permanent Secretary to have gone to jail. He was pardoned on condition that he repaid the money. He has failed to do so. If the state does not insist that Senyonga repays the money, it will appear as a failure of political will in the fight against corruption. It will be seen as a licence to steal. Government should give Senyonga a deadline by which he must repay the remaining 15 million shillings or return to jail. Reactionary rhetoric A BUGANDA minister told crowds in Owino Market that he was disappointed that none of the women appeared to be pregnant. He said Baganda should have as many children as possible to increase the supporters of the Kabaka. This reactionary rhetoric should be condemned by the Nabagereka who has been trying to introduce more progressive social attitudes into Mengo politics. All the evidence shows that child spacing improves the prosperity of the people and the status of girl children. Taking better care of a limited number of children will lead to a more educated and richer Buganda. Ends.