The Paradox Of Corruption In Uganda: A Tale Of Betrayal And Abatement By The Fountain Of Honour

In the intricate tapestry of Uganda’s political landscape, corruption has emerged as a formidable adversary, gnawing at the very foundations of the nation’s progress. At the helm of this battle against graft stands the figure of the 38 years regime President, often hailed as the “Fountain of Honour,” whose mandate includes championing the fight against this pervasive vice. However, recent events have cast a shadow of doubt upon his commitment, as allegations swirl regarding his complicity in abating corruption rather than curbing it.

To understand this disillusionment, one must rewind to the genesis of this narrative, marked by the Initial introduction of barter trade—an ostensibly noble initiative aimed at bolstering Uganda’s economy. However, beneath its façade laid a breeding ground for corruption. The system, initially hailed as a beacon of economic independence, soon unraveled into a cesspool of malfeasance, with reports of embezzlement, kickbacks, and under-the-table deals siphoning away the nation’s wealth that led to its abandonment.

Among the myriad instances of corruption, the saga of Danze, a government-owned company in 90’s, epitomized  the depths to which graft had penetrated. By evading taxation through nefarious means, Danze became a microcosm of systemic corruption, emblematic of the rot that plagued Uganda’s bureaucratic machinery. This incident not only underscored the brazen impunity with which corruption thrived but also spotlighted the complicity of influential figures in perpetuating this malaise.

The erosion of institutional integrity reached a crescendo with the controversial lifting of term and age limit caps from Uganda’s constitution—an audacious maneuver orchestrated by the President himself. In a display of Machiavellian pragmatism, he leveraged his political clout to coerce members of parliament into capitulating to his self-serving agenda. The constitutional amendments, ostensibly aimed at fostering democratic progression, served as a smokescreen for consolidating power and perpetuating his rule—a testament to the insidious nexus between power and corruption.

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Amidst mounting criticism and accusations of abating corruption, the President’s response was emblematic of his brazen disregard for accountability. In a startling display of defiance, he cautioned the Ombudsman against pursuing the corrupt with zeal, arguing that their ill-gotten gains were reinvested in the country’s economy—a thinly-veiled endorsement of corruption under the guise of economic development. This rhetoric not only normalized graft but also laid bare the moral bankruptcy of Uganda’s leadership, wherein corruption was tacitly sanctioned in pursuit of economic prosperity.

The Unprecedented Corruption Orchestrated By The speaker Of Parliament

In a show of zeal  to fight corruption, led by digital platform communications savvy Makerere University’s Spire Ssentongo, citizens  held an online exhibition about corruption in parliament, laying bare the Speaker’s abuse of office by not only allocating 3billion shillings of government money to her privately owned local radio station and drawing millions daily for her inland and out of the country travels through proxy of her office staff, but also using her position to preside over parliamentary commission to offer unheard of and undeserved rewards totaling to 1.7 trillion, to 4 parliamentary commissioners including the then leader of opposition Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba in order to gag him from stemming her corruption excesses. Ironically, the President who under normal circumstances, would be required to bring to book the errant Speaker, had the audacity of heaping praises to the Speaker after appearing in her constituency with. It was inauguration of a “private” hospital built by Among. The hospital is appropriately named after Museveni’s son, the current Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and potential heir to the presidency, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. One of the wards was also named after Muhoozi’s wife, Charlotte.

It is the irony of the century that Anita Among, who in 2017, was on the floor of Parliament criticizing Museveni for giving monetary rewards to government workers for winning a London tried case against the government of Uganda. It is the very thing she did with the leader of opposition.

In a show of determination to encourage the public to ask for accountability from their leaders, prior to the hospital opening, Spire Ssentongo had expressed fear for his life attributing it to the orders that had been given to Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) by the Speaker Anita Among to monitor Spire Ssentongo’s telephone conversations and movements. In a very rare show of disdain to the public,  Museveni one time told citizens that “am not a servant of any body, i work for myself,  children and grand children ” The President also left citizens astounded when he “added salt to an injury” by the entertaining hospital-opening show starring Museveni and featuring Among. The speaker of parliament knelt before the president and declared: “I know you don’t believe in kneeling, but I am kneeling for you.” Among told Museveni on her knees. “I want to tell you that you are the only person who is there for me. You are the only person who knows me as an asset. I will never disappoint you and this is my commitment.”. She added “I want to thank you for promoting our brother, Gen. Muhoozi, to become CDF. For us we believe in the Father, the Son and the Holly Spirit. We are still here with you the Father. When you tell us to move, we shall move to the son and be guided by the Holy Spirit.”  It is apparent that the Speaker’s body language gesture was a public show that as long as she remains the Speaker of Parliament, there is nothing that Museveni wants that wont be be passed in parliament.

Museveni’s Reaction to Among’s Submissions

“I have been hearing people attacking Anita Among and some other MPs. Many of these young MPs are learners direct from university… sometimes they may be excited and get loans, debts, … or make mistakes. But within NRM we always see how to help our people and get them out of their mistakes,” the president said wearing a tough face and went on, “How can you talk so much on social media about Anita Among? How about those who are working with foreigners? We are going to expose those traitors!”.

With such reactions our readers are free to determine whether the president and the Speaker of Parliament had a pre-event discussion of what each would say.

When some of us including the author who hail from Luweero district the cradle that brought the 38 year Museveni government in power, look back and remember our kin  who perished at the hands of Museveni rebellion, have nothing to bind our sympathy with a regime that has so far won the accolade of  systematically making corruption the paradigm of retaining power this long to the chagrin of citizens who laid their lives for the triumph of a person who turned out to be a chameleon in a human form!

Museveni has managed to retain power through abating corruption, he orchestrated this right from his early days of presidency. His party Secretary General put it to him in blue print

The shamelessness with which public officials plunder public resources without any care for the country as a hyena does to its prey; the ruthless suppression of political movements and individuals seeking to oppose this mismanagement and the sullen cynicism of many Ugandans today reflect how far we have sunk. Public institutions no longer embody a collective vision but instead reinforce a pattern of private advantage that is harmful to the country.

No Wonder, that  Kabaka’s Easter message, urged leaders to honour agreements even if they are verbal.

The implications of this narrative extend far beyond the confines of Uganda’s borders, resonating as a cautionary tale for nations grappling with endemic corruption. The betrayal of public trust by those entrusted with safeguarding the nation’s interests underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms aimed at fostering transparency, accountability, and ethical governance. The path to redemption necessitates a concerted effort to dismantle the entrenched networks of corruption, holding the perpetrators accountable irrespective of their stature or influence.

In conclusion, the paradox of corruption in Uganda epitomizes the betrayal of public trust by those tasked with upholding the nation’s integrity. The narrative, punctuated by instances of malfeasance and complicity at the highest echelons of power, serves as a sobering reminder of the insidious nature of graft and the imperative of vigilant oversight. As Uganda grapples with the specter of corruption, the onus lies on its leadership to transcend rhetoric and rhetoric and usher in an era of genuine reform—a task fraught with challenges yet indispensable for the nation’s progress and prosperity.