Expose the corrupt in the press-Nakalema

Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema Asizua, the head of the State House Anticorruption Unit (SHACU) has asked the newly appointed Leadership Code Tribunal (LCT) to endeavor to expose and shame the corrupt leaders in the press.

The Tribunal, which was appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judiciary Service Commission and with the approval of Parliament has the mandate to act as a court to try those who breach the leadership code especially through periodic non-declaration of assets and wealth as required by law.

It also has the role of enforcing procedures for the Inspectorate of Government in fulfilment of the constitutional objectives of promotion and maintenance of honesty, probity, impartiality, and integrity in public affairs and protection of public funds and property.



Nakalema told the members that exposing the corrupt individuals in government institutions and agencies is one of the strategies that should be applied by all anti-corruption agencies in order to restore hope in the public and let them know something was being done to deal with errant leaders who swindle government funds. 

Speaking to the members during an induction training session at the tribunal's offices at Padre Pio House in Kampala, Nakalema said using speed and urgency in handling corruption-related crimes was one of the tools her unit uses to achieve quick results.

She presented a paper on the linkages between SHACU and LCT.

She argued that delaying investigations hurts the public and gives a chance to the culprits to intimidate and scare away witnesses from surrendering information vital to pin them.

"When we receive information about the corrupt, we act rapidly and investigate the cases in the shortest time possible, which in the end restores confidence in the public and they are enticed to report more cases," she said.   



The tribunal is headed by Dr. Roselyn Irene Karugonjo Ssegawa. Others are the tribunal deputy and former minister, Asuman Kiyingi, Jane Arume Okellowange, Didas Bakunzi Mufasha and Joyce Nalunga Birimumaaso and the registrar, Patricia Okumu-Ringa.

 Nakalema will be ready to assist the tribunal to quickly handle the hard to reach leaders or those popularly referred to as the untouchables.

 "I am a soldier and I don't fear anyone. I swore to die on duty because I don't fear any of those you think are untouchable, refer them to us, we shall touch them on your behalf," she said.

 The deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), George Bamugemereire, also lectured to the tribunal and asked the members to take keen interest in discussing the methods the SHACU and the IGG were using in fighting corruption.  

Nakalema told the tribunal that it was important that they focus on high impact cases that normally hurt the public. She pledged to serve as a link between them and President Yoweri Museveni.

Bamugemereire said the tribunal is vital in the fight against corruption, saying they should become part of the chain in eliminating the vice from the society.

He asked the tribunal to pick a leaf from the methods the SHACU was using including a sense of urgency and speed.

"We are also trying to improve on our capacity at the inspectorate to detect and apply speed in our investigations and to focus on high impact cases," he said.

Kiyingi asked SHACU to open its doors to the tribunal for intervention especially when they come across the ‘untouchable leaders'. He said the tribunal in its operations should be able to stop leaders from committing crimes.

He also asked the unit to as well focus on corruption in the environment, saying a lot of wetlands and forests had been depleted through harmful acts after the culprits compromised the agencies mandated to protect them.    

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