200805131270 | Corruption condemned - Buturo

Corruption condemned - Buturo

THE Government is facing an uphill task in fighting corruption, the Ethics and Integrity minister, Dr. Nsaba Buturo has said.
“Corruption is our biggest enemy. Despite several efforts, the enemy has got us at our game. But we shall not give up until we defeat it,” Buturo said on Friday at Hotel Africana, Kampala.

He made the remarks during the launch of an anti-corruption campaign, Inter Agency Forum, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The $10m (about sh17b) project also supports capacity building activities in the Inspectorate of Government, the Directorate of Public Prosecution, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets, the Criminal Investigation Directorate, and the Office of the Auditor General.

According to a recent report released by the African Peer Review Mechanism, Uganda loses over sh500b to corruption every year

Buturo noted: “We are fighting a very sophisticated enemy. One of the reasons we are failing on the vice is because the hunters are also supposed to be hunted. You fail to know who is honest to hunt the corrupt.”

The minister said he was optimistic that the Whistle Blowers Protection Law would play a big role in combating corruption.
Peter Riley of USAID said: “Zero tolerance to corruption requires general transformation of the entire society starting with individuals.”

Riley said this could be achieved through anti-corruption agencies communicating with the public.
According to Riley, a successful battle against corruption calls for a public awareness and a sensitisation campaign on the vice.

The same function also marked the end of a five-day strategic communication training workshop for communication officers to implement the plan.
At least 36 officers were trained.