Jail corrupt NAADS officials
Mar 02, 2010
About sh3.2b lost under the National Agricultural Advisory Services programme (NAADS) has been recovered. NAADS officials who swindled the money have reportedly started paying it back.
About sh3.2b lost under the National Agricultural Advisory Services programme (NAADS) has been recovered. NAADS officials who swindled the money have reportedly started paying it back.
Complaints against NAADS officials have emerged in all President Museveni’s upcountry tours.
The NAADS funds have been grossly abused, procurement guidelines flouted and agricultural inputs purchased at inflated prices. The siphoning of NAADS funds has gone on for nearly a decade and over sh80b is feared embezzled by the officials managing the project.
The lists of beneficiaries submitted by most NAADS coordinators also show that the selection and the disbursement process has not been transparent. The point is, if the project is failing, it is imperative to know why it is failing. Corruption has been cited as a key reason why the project has achieved little impact.
There has even been a suggestion that security agencies be involved in the verification of the lists of beneficiaries countrywide. This is not enough.
It is surprising to hear a top NAADS official say: “We don’t want to imprison the culprits but want them to payback so that the farmers can benefit.†Where is the fairness?
Why should a NAADS official who steals billions of shillings be only asked to refund the stolen amount while another public servant is sent to jail over sh1m? This raises critical questions.
If this is encouraged, then the Government’s anti-corruption crusade will be undermined. There is a clear case for heavy punishment of the NAADS officials including serving prison sentences, besides refunding the stolen money.
The programme can only yield the desired results if the Government cracks the whip on these corrupt officials to stop wastage of public funds. They should be prosecuted just like any other theft cases. The leadership code provisions could also be applied to confiscate property of these thieving officials.
Complaints against NAADS officials have emerged in all President Museveni’s upcountry tours.
The NAADS funds have been grossly abused, procurement guidelines flouted and agricultural inputs purchased at inflated prices. The siphoning of NAADS funds has gone on for nearly a decade and over sh80b is feared embezzled by the officials managing the project.
The lists of beneficiaries submitted by most NAADS coordinators also show that the selection and the disbursement process has not been transparent. The point is, if the project is failing, it is imperative to know why it is failing. Corruption has been cited as a key reason why the project has achieved little impact.
There has even been a suggestion that security agencies be involved in the verification of the lists of beneficiaries countrywide. This is not enough.
It is surprising to hear a top NAADS official say: “We don’t want to imprison the culprits but want them to payback so that the farmers can benefit.†Where is the fairness?
Why should a NAADS official who steals billions of shillings be only asked to refund the stolen amount while another public servant is sent to jail over sh1m? This raises critical questions.
If this is encouraged, then the Government’s anti-corruption crusade will be undermined. There is a clear case for heavy punishment of the NAADS officials including serving prison sentences, besides refunding the stolen money.
The programme can only yield the desired results if the Government cracks the whip on these corrupt officials to stop wastage of public funds. They should be prosecuted just like any other theft cases. The leadership code provisions could also be applied to confiscate property of these thieving officials.