Corrupt leaders now vomit on shoes of donors
Daniel Lukwago
Corruption often flourishes where institutions are weak, rule of law and
formal rules are not rigorously observed, political patronage is rife,
according to the World Bank Report, "Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?"
Recent developments in the country, especially in Parliament, clearly
illustrate this.
Once entrenched, as is the case in Uganda, corruption hinders economic
performance, increases the cost of public investment, lowers the quality of
public infrastructure, decreases government revenue and makes it burdensome
and costly for citizens to access public services.
Despite an estimated Shs1,440 billion in international assistance every
year, Uganda continues to head the list of poverty, hunger and disease-prone
countries. Corrupt leaders siphon off this foreign aid and the country's
natural wealth, getting enriched, while their people suffer.
For decades, Uganda's agony has been made worse by plundering politicians
who have looted the country that the British once christened the pearl of
Africa. Uganda has wallowed in conflict and deprivation for many decades.
But it is corruption that has hurt the poor most, diverting funds from
development, undermining governments, fuelling injustice and inequality,
discouraging foreign investment, and breeding distrust and brutality.
According to the Auditor General's Report 2003/04, Uganda lost over Shs540
million in lack of accountabilities and misuse.
The junk helicopters, ghost payments, invisible valley dams, to the informal
fines by LCs, show that corruption is woven deeply into the fabric of
Uganda's public life.
While the G8 leaders have supported the cancellation of Uganda's
multilateral debt, our leaders have to pick up part of the bill themselves
by curbing their own corruption.
It's noble for the rich countries to help Uganda but what are our leaders
doing to help the poor people? As Mr. George W. Bush, the U.S. President,
said recently, "Nobody wants to give money to a country that is corrupt,
where leaders take money and put it in their pocket". Why should donors
continue giving us money, which remains in pockets of few politicians?
That is why some donors have threatened to withhold foreign aid because of
high levels of resource misuse and corruption.
Our leaders have not refuted the charges, but have instead complained about
donor interference in Uganda's internal affairs. As one diplomat put it,
they are behaving like gluttons and vomiting on the shoes of donors who
provide 50 percent of the national budget.
Over 40 percent of children under-five years of age in Uganda are
malnourished, and even major towns lack clean water and basic sanitation.
People in slum areas such as Katanga in Kampala and villages are dying of
cholera and other water-borne diseases while their leaders are
simultaneously building themselves lavish retirement homes.
Uganda has been highly regarded as African miracle during the NRM regime,
having enjoyed 6.5 percent annual economic growth rates and low inflation
rates. However, the country is becoming a basket case, riddled with
corruption, institutional decay, and rising sectarianism.
Uganda's troubles have been reverberated by the extravagant lifestyle of
public officers and failure by Government to punish corrupt leaders even
when they have been implicated in corruption practices.
These have looted the country's treasury through making fictitious payments,
kickbacks and when cash is not enough, they have awarded themselves
unauthentic contracts.
With the flair for political patronage and politics on numbers, our leaders
have managed to rule with a benevolent dictatorial hand, dividing opponents
along ethnic lines, manipulating the laws, including the constitution, and
pandering to a political culture that is consistently incompetent and very
corrupt.
By the time the current crop of leaders leave power they will be stinking
rich. At the same time, they will leave behind a nation crippled with
foreign debt, failing infrastructure, accusations of widespread human-rights
abuses and simmering sectarianism.
The failure of democracy and poverty reduction in Uganda is largely due to a
large part to the scramble for wealth by predator elites who have dominated
Uganda's politics. They see the state as a source of personal wealth
accumulation. Uganda's tragedy is not that the nation is poor. The tragedy
is that we lack a ruling class that is committed to overcoming the state of
poverty.
Daniel Lukwago is a policy officer at Uganda Debt Network (UDN)
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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