Former Ethics minister Miria Matembe has cleared the air why she was written off from the nbstv show Frontline.
Matembe is among the pioneer Front-liners. However, following her direct attacks and utterances against the present regime, she was never allowed to appear on that show.
While speaking at the relaunch of the Black Monday Movement and the launching of their 41st Black Monday publication on Monday at Action Aid offices in Kansanga, Matembe told the public that government is afraid of her because she tells Ugandans the truth which many so-called opposition politicians can not tell Ugandans.
“That is why they chased me from NBStv show Frontline because Security Minister Elly Tumwine said I was telling Ugandans so much truth. But I will not keep quiet because God gave me a mouth to speak,” Matembe
She added that it is their duty as Citizens of Uganda under Article 17 of the Constitution to combat all forms of Corruption and bad leadership without fear or favour.
“Stop fearing people, get up and report corrupt officials. Don’t fear, in every institution, there are people who are not corrupt, so you who is not corrupt don’t fear to stand up because you are not alone. There are still people God has kept just as you,” she added.
She also added that the CorruptionFreeUganda walk was an indicator that the President has failed to fight corruption but just praising it.
She asked, ”Before the fight against corruption was moved to the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, we had an Anti Corruption Unit in the Vice Presidents office, now we have it in the Presidents Office. Aren’t we working in reverse?”
Among the people who were present was Imam Idi Kasozi, the Imam of Mawanga Mosque(munyonyo) and the Vice-Chairman Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly (UMYA) who also called upon the press to stand for what is right, and bring out stories that expose injustice. He also called the recent Anti-corruption walk of President Museveni a joke of the year.
“I can’t tell if those who walked at CorruptionFreeUganda, did so to fight Corruption out of Uganda or did so to enforce it even further. This was the best joke of the year, President Museveni will always manipulate you to get what he wants,” Imam Kasozi said.
According to the organisers, they are also going to give out awards to the most corrupt ministers and other civil servants by naming and shaming them.
Meanwhile, this year alone, Uganda has registered several corruption scandals including the suspicious Shs1.4 trillion in the specialised hospital in Lubowa and the Shs 90 billion that was allegedly printed money by some businessmen and Bank of Uganda officials, the Shs25bn of the Isimba bridge among others.
According to the recent Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International, Uganda is the 149 least corrupt nation out of 175 countries beating only 26 countries.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
