President Yoweri Museveni has cleared himself of blame in the corruption that is plaguing his government, saying he cannot fight it singlehandedly.
Museveni said on Tuesday that while he is the head of government, he cannot go after corrupt civil servants and other government leaders without following the laid down procedures.
The President was responding to some social media users who singled him out recently for failure to reign in on his corrupt officials.
“You are the President; you should have stopped the corruption.” Yes, but I must follow the law and the Constitution. These involve the Police to investigate, the government lawyers to prosecute and the Judges to convict and punish or acquit,” Museveni said.
“Actually, the President comes in remotely in fighting crime. He has powers over the political appointments to some extent by appointing Ministers, RDCs, etc. He must, however, have clear evidence in order for him not to appoint so and so or dismiss him or her. Otherwise, it will cause new problems of lack of cohesion, of complaints about unfairness etc. That is why the whole issue goes back to the question of evidence and the need for the Public (the citizens, the farmers, the manufacturers, the artisans, the service providers), who, most of the time, are the victims of these corrupt officials and politicians, to be involved.”
The President’s remarks come amid the recent scandal in which several of his cabinet members were implicated in the theft of iron sheets that were meant to support communities in Karamoja sub region.
Karamoja affairs Minister Hon Mary Goretti Kitutu has since been jailed as the main suspect in the scandal, and is expected back in court this week to seek bail.
The Directorate of Public Prosecution office has also severally hinted on sanctioning files for more officials to face justice.
Some of the top officials accused of sharing the roofing materials include Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Ministers Amos Lugolobi, Matia Kasaija, Agnes Naduttu among others.
President Museveni in his statement today admitted that corrupt officials have greatly derailed his efforts to transform Uganda, but indicated that their days are numbered.
“With the NRM and myself in charge, they are fighting a losing war. Why? It is because of the fact that either the anti-corruption fighters do their work or, working with the public, the President will do it for them. How? Using the Public Barazas and relying on whistle-blowers. Do this work? Dangerously so. During my recent tour of Acholi, I got so much information about the wrong-doers and the State House Anti-corruption Unit is hot on everybody’s trail – that was involved in any mistakes.”