ARE KENYA AND UGANDA TWIN BROTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO CORRUPTION?

NEW VISION EDITORIAL
11th February, 2010
KAMPALA, UGANDA

ON Wednesday members of the meteorological department appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to answer queries raised in the Auditor General’s report on CHOGM expenditures.

Of particular interest was the sh600m aviation and weather radar equipment that was supposed to be installed specifically for CHOGM.

Not only was the system delivered three days into CHOGM — meaning it did not serve its initial purpose, but in addition the “brand new” radar is no longer in operation having broken down last year.
The officials said they did not have the capacity to get it up and running again prompting the question, wasn’t there a warranty on the equipment?

The PAC chairman Nandala Mafabi suggested the suppliers should refund the money and the procurement officials be penalised for buying junk and be charged with abuse of office.

The incompetence of our civil servants would not be comical were it not for the fact that this country does not have enough drugs and personnel in health centres.

And it totally ceases to be funny when, on closer scrutiny, this bungled contract can only point to less charitable motives on the officials part. Hopefully that will be for the courts to decide.

Corruption has become so pervasive the fear is that when history is written it will be the enduring legacy of this generation.

Corruption is frustrating the delivery of services, which in turn is making it impossible for the majority of Ugandans to partake of the world renowned economic growth this country is famous for.

Eventually the beneficiaries of corruption subvert democracy perpetuating a vicious cycle of poverty.
Time is running out for Ugandans. Either we deal with this cancer now or let the generations that come after us grovel under the heels of an oppressive minority hell bent on sustaining the status quo in order to continue feeding at the trough.