1,000 face sack over wealth data

Apr 16, 2008

Over 1,000 public leaders face dismissal over failure to declare their wealth as required by the Leadership Code.

By John Odyek

Over 1,000 public leaders face dismissal over failure to declare their wealth as required by the Leadership Code.

Raphael Baku, the deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), on Wednesday told the parliamentary committee on legal affairs that they had written to the leaders, but received no response.

Baku said the culprits include MPs, ministers, sub-county chiefs, head teachers and their deputies. They were expected to declare their assets and liabilities this financial year.

Baku said the code could only be effective if illegally accumulated wealth was confiscated.

“The Leadership Code gives the IGG the mandate to confiscate property acquired illegally, not declared or obtained through corruption. If we can dispose of this property or confiscate them for the State, then we shall send a message to the public that ill-gotten wealth is bad.”

Baku revealed that 30 leaders were recently asked to explain how they acquired their assets, while caveats were placed on property of four others.

He said information on 16,958 leaders had been entered into the database.

Former outspoken Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi lost his seat in December 2005 after failing to declare his wealth.

The IGG said they had sent several reminders to Lukyamuzi but he failed to comply. The MP has unsuccessfully contested the IGG’s decision in court.

The MPs also asked Baku to explain why his boss, Justice Faith Mwondha, had refused to appear before the committee.

Peter Nyombi, the chairman, said Mwondha only wrote a letter to the committee, complaining that the Attorney General’s office was not cooperating with her, but she refused to appear in person.

Nyombi noted that the IGG could not fight corruption without the cooperation of other agencies.

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