Put the corrupt on firing squad â€" Mafabi

May 13, 2009

THE debate on the new anti-corruption law began yesterday in Parliament with an MP calling for firing squad for those found guilty of the vice.

By Henry Mukasa and Catherine Bekunda

THE debate on the new anti-corruption law began yesterday in Parliament with an MP calling for firing squad for those found guilty of the vice.

Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi (FDC) said the death sentence should be given to officials who sign contracts with knowledge that they are not in the public interest.

“Someone signs a contract saying: ‘in case we delay to pay, we shall pay interest at a commercial rate and a penalty of 10%’. Those who sign such contracts should be put on firing squad,” Mafabi stated.

He described his fellow legislators who habitually absentee themselves from the House as corrupt.

Mafabi called for a truth and reconciliation committee on corruption.

He said the existing law on sectarianism punished those who talked about it and not the one who practiced it.

Most MPs who spoke supported the Anti-Corruption Bill that was presented to Parliament last year by ethics and integrity minister Dr. James Nsaba Buturo.

While some welcomed the law as timely, others said, like most good laws passed in the past, it would not be effective.

Abura Pirir (NRM), however, said the best way to fight corruption was legalising it.

“We are fighting a war but it is too late. Corruption is a cancer eating humanity. If I had the power, I would legalise it,” Abura stated.

He explained that corruption was launched the day decentralisation was implemented.

“In any district you go, corruption is the order of the day,” Abura said.

Stephen Kagwera (NRM) said the problem was not entirely the absence of laws to punish the corrupt, but lack of political will to stop it.

“Many people have committed the crime and walked away with their heads high. We know all these cases,” Kagwera said, adding that the corrupt had become ‘wiser’ than the courts of law.

He suggested that nepotism and sectarianism be punished as severely as corruption should be.

Betty Amongi (Independent) noted that corruption starts at the budgeting process where the largest chunk of money is allocated for allowances, travel and salaries other than projects to help the poor.

Amongi said the situation was worse at the districts.

She called for a special provision for people who are habitually corrupt.

The Bill seeks to provide for a more effective way of preventing corruption in both the public and private sector by repealing the Prevention of Corruption Act 1970 (Cap 121).

It provides for investigation, prosecution and confiscation of the property of those found guilty and protects witnesses and whistle- blowers.

The report was submitted to the House by Simon Menhya (NRM), the presidential affairs committee chairman. Menhya reported that the committee disregarded a written submission of the former IGG, Justice Faith Mwondha.

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