Uganda ranks high in corruption

Uganda ranked 151 of 176 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) annual report conducted by Transparency International in 2016. In the report that was launched yesterday (Wednesday), Uganda scored 25% dropping 12 places from its position in the 2015 report.

Jose Ugaz chair for transparency International in the report attributes the high levels of corruption to deficiency of opportunities for all which has created a vicious circle between corruption and unequal distribution of power in society. "It has become easy for the rich to exploit the poor and the powerful to exploit the opaqueness of the global financial system  to enrich themselves  at the expense of the public good" said U

He also expressed the urgency to solve the problem because in many of the countries, people have been robbed of the chance to enjoy the basic needs of life, while the powerful and corrupt enjoy lavish life at liberty. "We do not have the luxury of time. Corruption needs to be fought with urgency so that the lives of people in the world improve" said Ugaz

Speaking to journalists at the Transparency International Uganda (TIU) headquarters in Ntinda the chairperson (TIU) John Mary Odoy seconding Ugaz said it is because of the increased inequality in the county

 "Corruption and equality are the same things, those who have a lot of money have continued to get rich by exploiting the poor and the poor are just getting worse" said Odoy

Odoy also linked Uganda's poor performance in the (CPI) report to  politician's endless empty promises to tackle corruption and never deliver have made the situation worse by exciting the public with catchy phrases like "zero tolerance to corruption" and the recent "kisanja akuna muchezo" and after turn around against the people they promised and advise Uganda political leaders to walk the talk instead of making empty promise

The executive director (TIU) Peter Wandela attributes Uganda's 12 place drop from the 2015 report on the 2016 presidential and parliament elections that saw political aspirants splash monies in a bid to get the people's vote. "The leaders spent a lot on organizing rallies and giving money to the voters to vote in their favor" said Wandera

The reports also features Denmark and New Zealand as the best with 90% and the worst performer being Somalia and South Sudan with 10% and 11% respectively. In East African Rwanda ranked best with 54% followed by Tanzania with 32 percent and kenya with 26% and the worst was Burundi with 20%

The countries at the top characterists of open government, press freedom civil liberties and independent judicial systems while the countries at the bottom are characterised by widespread impunity for corruption, poor governance and weak institutions