Prime
Government to protect corruption whistle blowers
State Minister for Ethics and Integrity Fr. Simon Lokodo
KAMPALA: State Minister for Ethics and Integrity Fr. Simon Lokodo has assured whistle blowers in corruption related cases of protection.
Speaking to a group of youth who had converged at Railway grounds in Kampala on Monday to build synergies among Anti- corruption actors, Fr Lokodo asked the youth not to fear reporting anybody involved in acts of corruption.
Fr. Lokodo was responding to complaints from the youth that they were afraid of reporting some cases of corruption mainly because they involve senior government officials who have the capacity to retaliate against them (whistle blowers) in case of anything.
“I would like to assure the public that government will take all necessary efforts to punish the perpetrators of these crimes in line with the zero tolerance to corruption policy,” he said.
He added that government will undertake key strategic interventions in the fight against corruption.
This according to him will include; operationalizing the leadership code tribunal which will adjudicate cases of breach of leadership code of conduct, enacting an asset recovery law which is intended to provide for conviction-based and non-conviction based asset recovery, providing a joint vigorous inspection and monitoring of projects and programmes in the local government and also hold joint advocacy campaigns with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to participate in activities aimed at reducing corruption.
Ms Christine Iga, the senior inspectorate officer in the inspectorate of government said they had so far received 116 cases of corruption during the 5th leg of the Anti- corruption caravan that had been organized by Action Aid Uganda together with other civil society organization in the districts of Palisa, Kumi, Katakwi and Soroti.
“We have already started looking into these cases and so far seven arrests have been made. We are committed to looking into all these cases such that all the culprits are brought to book,” she said.
Henry Nickson Ogwal, the Acting country director for Action Aid Uganda said the massive sensitization of people about corruption has shifted their opinion towards corruption. He observed that currently, corruption has turned into a risky venture for most people holding public offices.
However, he observed that “In Bukedea district we discovered a hospital building that had been constructed 10 years ago but had never been used simply because it has never been commissioned.”
However, Fr. Lokodo reaffirmed continued government commitment to work with civil society partners to galvanize public support towards the fight against corruption and moral decay in the country.
