By Brendah Akankwatsa,
NATIONAL
The Opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party says corruption is imposing great challenges to economic growth and national development.
The remarks were made by the party spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon at a press conference at the headquarters Kampala while responding to president Museveni’s previous comments on corrupt government officials during a State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Last week on Thursday, president Museveni he has credible reports of some officials in the ministry of finance and at parliament who are taking bribes from investors and pledged to deal with them.
“I have been hearing stories that there is a racket from the Ministry of Finance, to Parliament aaahhaa! To Parliament, I have been hearing, but now I have proof. Nolwekyo, ababi bafudde banange. I have been hearing that from Ministry of Finance, they arrange with Accounting Officers of Ministries to come to Parliament, working with some people there, to provide certain funds, provided you take a share. I didn’t believe this, but now I have proof,” President Kaguta Museveni said.
But, Arach says if the president is to arrest corrupt government officials, he will almost lead the country alone
According to Sharon, almost 90% of government officials are corrupt thus putting the economy of the country at risk.
Furthermore, the UPC spokesperson pointed out the recent arrests of three legislators namely; Cissy Namujju (Lwengo District Woman MP), Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), and Paul Akamba (Busiki County) on allegations of racket corruption and urged the president, anti corruption and criminal investigation agencies to also go for the “big fish”.
“UPC considers corruption as a cancer! Once allowed to persist, it can eat up the whole country hence putting our livelihoods at stake. This therefore calls for a head-on approach to rigorously fight corruption without any hesitations,”Arach said.
Latest reports indicate that the trio were today Wednesday 12th June, 2024 paraded before the Anti-Corruption Court Nakaseero but they denied the charges prompting the presiding magistrate, Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro to remand them to prison on corruption charges.
