In a call to action aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption, the Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has urged political leaders and all leaders in different government departments across the country to rally behind Gen Yoweri Kaguta’s efforts to eliminate graft.
Emphasizing the need for unity and commitment, Otafiire highlighted that the battle against corruption is not just a presidential responsibility but a national duty that requires the active support of all political leaders.
While speaking at the first annual coordination meeting between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) at CID Headquarters in Kibuli on Thursday, General Otafiire asserted that corruption is undermining all the government’s efforts since 1986. He emphasized the pain of seeing the President battling this fight alone, urging leaders to step up and join the cause against corruption.
“We have this problem of the existential threat to national integrity and development which is corruption. I find it difficult that it is only you blowing the clarion call to fight corruption when the rest of us in leadership are a bit silent. So I call upon my colleague leaders, and political leaders to stand up and support the president in fighting against corruption,” he said.
He noted that although their words might not immediately lead to significant change, it remains crucial for them to speak out and take a stand against corruption. “As for you, the CID officers,” he added, “I urge you to conduct an internal reflection and continuously acknowledge your faults, engaging in a perpetual recitation of ‘mea culpa. That’s what will save your reputation and cause the advancement of our society.”
In the same real, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the president that their effort is also towards ensuring a free corruption institution. “Your excellence we are focused on the war against corruption and terrorism, and working on cases of payrolls, and cooperatives, and before the end of this month we must have progressed because we think that if we don’t prosecute clear corruption cases, your Excellence we shall be building a culture of impunity and I believe you and us don’t want that.”
The appeal from the two leaders comes at a time when corruption is proving to be a significant challenge for General Museveni’s government, especially in this term, with whistle-blowers exposing corruption cases across various government departments, ministries, and even within Parliament.
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