Matembe Blames Public On Kazini

By Geresom Musamali and Lucy YallopETHICS and integrity state minister Miria Matembe on Friday said the public let her down in May when she attempted to get Army Commander Major General James Kazini to declare the cement donation.Kazini was given a donation of 200 bags of cement by the Kasese business community during a function on April 27, reportedly for his good service in fighting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Rwenzoris.Kasese residents said Kazini should use the cement to build a modern hotel in their town. However, the Leadership Code of Conduct stipulates that all gifts that are given to a public servant in appreciation of their work be declared to the Inspector general of Government (IGG) and subsequently surrendered.The IGG, Jotham Tumwesigye, and Matembe urged Kazini to surrender the donation but Kazini, through the Army spokesman, Major Shaban Bantariza said he would not because he had received the gift at a private function.Matembe told a national integrity and ethical standards workshop at Hotel Equatoria that she expected the public to come out openly and urge Kazini to declare the cement.She said instead, the public wrote letters in the newspapers supporting Kazini and referring to her as redundant.Matembe said in several other instances, she has had to fight the anti-corruption battles alone.“Matembe is not everything. I was never appointed to fight corruption, arrest and imprison people and follow them into their bedrooms and wherever they are stealing,” Matembe said. Ends