Courts slowing anti-corruption efforts
Jun 15, 2009
THE acting Inspector General of Government, Raphael Baku, has accused the courts of frustrating the fight against corruption by preferring lenient sentences to persons found guilty.
By Frank Mugabi
THE acting Inspector General of Government, Raphael Baku, has accused the courts of frustrating the fight against corruption by preferring lenient sentences to persons found guilty.
“Convicts can get a maximum of 10 years, but judges have been reluctant to give such stiff sentences. Instead, they give them about three years with the option of paying a fine. This only makes corruption a lucrative business,†Baku said.
Addressing teachers, students and school management committees on ethics and integrity at Ombaci College in Arua on Friday, Baku said the fines imposed were not deterrent because they were less than the money embezzled.
He said if the judges made the convicts to refund embezzled funds and serve long jail terms, the fight against corruption would have advanced.
Baku added that inadequate funding of anti-corruption institutions was one of the major challenges to corruption.
The public, Baku noted, was reluctant to provide information to anti-corruption investigators and testify before court.
Baku warned that corruption could result into social unrest if left to escalate. He called upon all Ugandans to be vigilant, saying the Constitution gives every citizen the power to fight graft.
He also urged civil society organisations to confidently fight the vice.
David Onen, the programme coordinator MAYANK anti-corruption coalition, an anti-graft body in West Nile, said there was need to inculcate moral values in the youth to promote ethics and integrity.
He said the NGO had designed several programmes to track public resources.
The coalition recently released two damning reports on the health sector in Koboko and Yumbe districts
THE acting Inspector General of Government, Raphael Baku, has accused the courts of frustrating the fight against corruption by preferring lenient sentences to persons found guilty.
“Convicts can get a maximum of 10 years, but judges have been reluctant to give such stiff sentences. Instead, they give them about three years with the option of paying a fine. This only makes corruption a lucrative business,†Baku said.
Addressing teachers, students and school management committees on ethics and integrity at Ombaci College in Arua on Friday, Baku said the fines imposed were not deterrent because they were less than the money embezzled.
He said if the judges made the convicts to refund embezzled funds and serve long jail terms, the fight against corruption would have advanced.
Baku added that inadequate funding of anti-corruption institutions was one of the major challenges to corruption.
The public, Baku noted, was reluctant to provide information to anti-corruption investigators and testify before court.
Baku warned that corruption could result into social unrest if left to escalate. He called upon all Ugandans to be vigilant, saying the Constitution gives every citizen the power to fight graft.
He also urged civil society organisations to confidently fight the vice.
David Onen, the programme coordinator MAYANK anti-corruption coalition, an anti-graft body in West Nile, said there was need to inculcate moral values in the youth to promote ethics and integrity.
He said the NGO had designed several programmes to track public resources.
The coalition recently released two damning reports on the health sector in Koboko and Yumbe districts