Kanyeihamba raps M7 over corrupt ministers
Mar 25, 2009
SUPREME Court judge Justice George Kanyeihamba has criticised President Yoweri Museveni for retaining ministers who have been implicated in corruption. “The President is a politician and is under pressure to give ministerial jobs, but why do you (Parlia
By Cyprian Musoke
SUPREME Court judge Justice George Kanyeihamba has criticised President Yoweri Museveni for retaining ministers who have been implicated in corruption.
“The President is a politician and is under pressure to give ministerial jobs, but why do you (Parliament) approve every candidate he President throws at you?†the judge asked.
He was speaking at a dialogue on corruption at Parliament yesterday.
Citing the Global Fund scandal where billions of shillings were misappropriated, Kanyeihamba noted that the highest prevalence of corruption was in the Government.
Three former health ministers Brig. Jim Muhwezi, Captain Mike Mukula and Dr. Alex Kamugisha were in 2007 arrested over the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation funds.
They were charged with embezzlement and abuse of office and remanded to Luzira Prisons. The case is ongoing.
The ministers were also pinned by the James Ogoola Commission in 2006, which probed the Global Fund, of misappropriating money meant for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis activities. The case is pending prosecution.
Kanyeihamba, however, did not name any minister. He urged donors to emulate Oxfam, an international aid agency, which channels funds for social programmes through civil society organisations.
Kanyeihamba argued that the laws on corruption were strong, but their implementation was weak.
Former ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe said she initiated an anti-corruption agency.
She explained that she strived to come up with the Leadership Code, but presidential advisers like Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale and Fox Odoi appealed against some of the sections.
Matembe said the President had also compromised the Judiciary by appointing Movement cadres to the bench and allowing the High Court to be besieged by soldiers.
Principal Judge James Ogoola, in a speech read by Justice JB Katutsi, said the country, once called the Pearl of Africa, had lost its glory.
He said the Judiciary would establish a court users’ committee to engage the bench in dialogue on the back-log of cases.
World Bank country chief Kudhavi Kadresan said there was a sense of hopelessness about what was being done to combat corruption.
SUPREME Court judge Justice George Kanyeihamba has criticised President Yoweri Museveni for retaining ministers who have been implicated in corruption.
“The President is a politician and is under pressure to give ministerial jobs, but why do you (Parliament) approve every candidate he President throws at you?†the judge asked.
He was speaking at a dialogue on corruption at Parliament yesterday.
Citing the Global Fund scandal where billions of shillings were misappropriated, Kanyeihamba noted that the highest prevalence of corruption was in the Government.
Three former health ministers Brig. Jim Muhwezi, Captain Mike Mukula and Dr. Alex Kamugisha were in 2007 arrested over the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation funds.
They were charged with embezzlement and abuse of office and remanded to Luzira Prisons. The case is ongoing.
The ministers were also pinned by the James Ogoola Commission in 2006, which probed the Global Fund, of misappropriating money meant for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis activities. The case is pending prosecution.
Kanyeihamba, however, did not name any minister. He urged donors to emulate Oxfam, an international aid agency, which channels funds for social programmes through civil society organisations.
Kanyeihamba argued that the laws on corruption were strong, but their implementation was weak.
Former ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe said she initiated an anti-corruption agency.
She explained that she strived to come up with the Leadership Code, but presidential advisers like Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale and Fox Odoi appealed against some of the sections.
Matembe said the President had also compromised the Judiciary by appointing Movement cadres to the bench and allowing the High Court to be besieged by soldiers.
Principal Judge James Ogoola, in a speech read by Justice JB Katutsi, said the country, once called the Pearl of Africa, had lost its glory.
He said the Judiciary would establish a court users’ committee to engage the bench in dialogue on the back-log of cases.
World Bank country chief Kudhavi Kadresan said there was a sense of hopelessness about what was being done to combat corruption.