MP warns donors over experts

By Ali Mambule and Dismus Buregyeya

THE MP for Bukoto Midwest in Masaka, Isaac Sejjoba, has condemned donors who offer huge sums of money to developing countries and thereafter send expatriates workers to consume most of it.

“Most of the funds are spent on expatriates who are attached to the programmes, while the rest of the money is spent on buying very expensive vehicles.”

Sejjoba made the remarks recently during a UN Development Programme stakeholders’ workshop at Serona Hotel in Rakai.

Where the recipient governments have asked for the funds, Ssejjoba noted, they should be allowed to decide how to use the money.

Laws, the MP said, should be revised to be more stringent against corrupt officers.

“If offences related to corruption were made criminal or capital and the punishment made harsher, very few officials would dare misuse our money.”

He said it was disgusting to see officials accused of stealing billions of public money spending only six months in detention, while others go scot-free.

“They come out happy men and women with all the confidence that no one will ever follow them up.

“But they leave us in big debts, which will even need our grand and great grandchildren’s contribution to settle.”

The legislator also called for decentralisation of industries to enable other parts of the country to develop.

The UNDP country representative, Theophane Nikyema, called upon Ugandans to domesticate the millennium development goals, especially those related to agriculture.

“Ensure that agricultural production is given the care it deserves to help fight poverty.”