IGG names the most corrupt organs
Nov 19, 2008
THE Police Force remains the most corrupt institution for 10 years running, according to public perceptions. Most households regard the Police Force as the most corrupt institution followed by the Traffic Police, according to the third National Integrity Survey Report.
By Anthony Bugembe
THE Police Force remains the most corrupt institution for 10 years running, according to public perceptions. Most households regard the Police Force as the most corrupt institution followed by the Traffic Police, according to the third National Integrity Survey Report.
The institutions were followed by the Judiciary, the Uganda Revenue Authority, district service commissions, UMEME, a power utility firm and the public service pension office.
The survey, commissioned by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), was carried out by REEV Consult International.
It investigated the prevalence and incidences of corruption and administrative injustice in public service and the reasons for it. It covered 12,201 households countrywide. The survey is carried out every five years.
In the second report of 2003, about 47% of the respondents ranked the Police as the most corrupt institution, while in 1998, 60% perceived it as corrupt.
Speaking at the launch of the 2008 report at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Bageya Waiswa, the IGG secretary, said: “The trend of corruption has taken a new twist by involving people who are supposed to be fighting corruption like the Police and the Judiciary.â€
East African affairs minister Eriya Kategaya launched the report.
On dishonesty, about three-quarters of the respondents regard the traffic Police as the most dishonest, followed by the general Police and UMEME.
In 2003, the traffic Police took the first position, followed by tender boards and the Electoral Commission.
This year, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation emerged the most honest public institution, followed by the Inspector General of Government and NGOs. In 2003, the Bank of Uganda took the first position, followed by water corporation.
On the quality of services delivered, NGOs ranked highest, followed by the IGG, local councils and Water.
The poorest service providers, the survey said, was UMEME, followed by the pensions office, the lands office, and the Police.
According to the survey, the level of reporting corruption cases is low compared to what the case was in 2003. Lack of knowledge of where to report the cases is the main reason for not reporting. Some households fear to offend the culprits and retribution, or laborious.
Jeroen Verheul, the Dutch ambassador to Uganda, said the other reason was the fear of being regarded anti-government.
“How can fighting corruption be regarded anti-government when government is supposed to be protecting the people?†he asked. “If we are to fight corruption, we need to analyse its root causes and this takes hard work and perseverance.â€
Since the first survey, he said, Uganda has been heading in the wrong direction in the fight against corruption. “There is a ring of people protecting corrupt officials,†he noted. “Public officials must separate political and business interests.â€
This year’s survey concluded that bribery was the most prevalent form of corruption in public institutions, which was blamed on greed. In 2003, low salary was given as the cause of corruption.
The current report also cited embezzlement, extortion, nepotism, favouritism and forgery.
The respondents said people bribe public officials after the latter directly ask for them. The liberalisation of the media was reported to be the most successful measure put in place by the Government to fight corruption, followed by the IGG.
However, the Public Procurement and Disposal Authority, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Leadership Code were the least successful.
The survey noted that 20% of employees in public institutions lack formal appointment letters and complained of high levels of diverting public funds.
However, the majority of private entrepreneurs consider the demand for bribes by public officials acceptable and find bribery a minor offence.
Some 17% of the respondents did not consider the demand for a bribe to be an offence.
Private entrepreneurs feel sacking corrupt officials and strengthening laws against corruption would solve the vice.
On investment, most private enterprises regarded high taxes as an impediment.
Electricity tariffs, payment of bribes and the long licensing process were also identified. The same reasons were cited in 2005.
Reacting to the report, IGG Faith Mwondha said fighting corruption was a collective effort. She said the latest report wosuld help the IGG fight corruption better.
“The institutions that are rated poorly will need to improve,†she said.
She warned against complacency.
“The fact that majority of the people don’t report corruption tendencies because they thought nothing would be done about it is hypocrisy,†she said. “We should not remain silent about things that affect our lives most.â€
THE Police Force remains the most corrupt institution for 10 years running, according to public perceptions. Most households regard the Police Force as the most corrupt institution followed by the Traffic Police, according to the third National Integrity Survey Report.
The institutions were followed by the Judiciary, the Uganda Revenue Authority, district service commissions, UMEME, a power utility firm and the public service pension office.
The survey, commissioned by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), was carried out by REEV Consult International.
It investigated the prevalence and incidences of corruption and administrative injustice in public service and the reasons for it. It covered 12,201 households countrywide. The survey is carried out every five years.
In the second report of 2003, about 47% of the respondents ranked the Police as the most corrupt institution, while in 1998, 60% perceived it as corrupt.
Speaking at the launch of the 2008 report at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Bageya Waiswa, the IGG secretary, said: “The trend of corruption has taken a new twist by involving people who are supposed to be fighting corruption like the Police and the Judiciary.â€
East African affairs minister Eriya Kategaya launched the report.
On dishonesty, about three-quarters of the respondents regard the traffic Police as the most dishonest, followed by the general Police and UMEME.
In 2003, the traffic Police took the first position, followed by tender boards and the Electoral Commission.
This year, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation emerged the most honest public institution, followed by the Inspector General of Government and NGOs. In 2003, the Bank of Uganda took the first position, followed by water corporation.
On the quality of services delivered, NGOs ranked highest, followed by the IGG, local councils and Water.
The poorest service providers, the survey said, was UMEME, followed by the pensions office, the lands office, and the Police.
According to the survey, the level of reporting corruption cases is low compared to what the case was in 2003. Lack of knowledge of where to report the cases is the main reason for not reporting. Some households fear to offend the culprits and retribution, or laborious.
Jeroen Verheul, the Dutch ambassador to Uganda, said the other reason was the fear of being regarded anti-government.
“How can fighting corruption be regarded anti-government when government is supposed to be protecting the people?†he asked. “If we are to fight corruption, we need to analyse its root causes and this takes hard work and perseverance.â€
Since the first survey, he said, Uganda has been heading in the wrong direction in the fight against corruption. “There is a ring of people protecting corrupt officials,†he noted. “Public officials must separate political and business interests.â€
This year’s survey concluded that bribery was the most prevalent form of corruption in public institutions, which was blamed on greed. In 2003, low salary was given as the cause of corruption.
The current report also cited embezzlement, extortion, nepotism, favouritism and forgery.
The respondents said people bribe public officials after the latter directly ask for them. The liberalisation of the media was reported to be the most successful measure put in place by the Government to fight corruption, followed by the IGG.
However, the Public Procurement and Disposal Authority, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Leadership Code were the least successful.
The survey noted that 20% of employees in public institutions lack formal appointment letters and complained of high levels of diverting public funds.
However, the majority of private entrepreneurs consider the demand for bribes by public officials acceptable and find bribery a minor offence.
Some 17% of the respondents did not consider the demand for a bribe to be an offence.
Private entrepreneurs feel sacking corrupt officials and strengthening laws against corruption would solve the vice.
On investment, most private enterprises regarded high taxes as an impediment.
Electricity tariffs, payment of bribes and the long licensing process were also identified. The same reasons were cited in 2005.
Reacting to the report, IGG Faith Mwondha said fighting corruption was a collective effort. She said the latest report wosuld help the IGG fight corruption better.
“The institutions that are rated poorly will need to improve,†she said.
She warned against complacency.
“The fact that majority of the people don’t report corruption tendencies because they thought nothing would be done about it is hypocrisy,†she said. “We should not remain silent about things that affect our lives most.â€