We can rid our nation of corruption, says Col Nakalema

KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: State House Anti Corruption Unit SH-ACU boss Col Edith Nakalema has said Uganda can achieve a society without Corruption but she warned it is a multi stakeholder engagement.

“We can only eliminate corruption if it becomes every one’s responsibility. We need to love our country  and own it”, she said speaking via  FM90 and Kaboozi FM 87.9 on on Friday.

Col. Nakalema  assured the public that a corruption free Uganda is attainable and appealed to the public to desist from indulging in any activity that would amount to corruption.

“That  if we say no to bribery, the receiver will not have it. The one pushing Corruption, number one in it is the giver of the bribe, ” Nakalema said.

She implored religious and cultural leaders to  continue with gospel against corruption saying their role is of great impact in fighting corruption.

“The people regard them in high esteem and their messages go deeper into the peoples hearts,” Nakalema stressed.

Nakalema lauded the Kabaka for positive public engagements on issues affecting communities.

She also asserted that parents and teachers have to play a significant role in the moral upbringing of children with integrity, who will stand for transparency and say no to corruption.

Nakalema said that SH-ACU, successful stories are attributed to synergies shared with other  other  anti-Corruption agencies such as the Inspector General of Government, Auditor General and others.

The Col. Edith Nakalema led unit was launched on December 10, 2018 by President Museveni to compliment the fight against corruption.

At least 299 persons have been prosecuted by the State House Anti Corruption Unit (SH- ACU) over its two years of existence and Shs.26bn recovered, a compliment in the anti corruption war.

 

Out of the the 299 cases prosecuted, 179 persons are top government officials yet the 120 are private individuals. A total of 39 individuals have since been successfully prosecuted and sentenced.

 

Shs.26bn recovered.

Big money recoveries by SH-ACU have taken place in the office of the Prime Minister where Shs. 8.6bn was recovered from officials who had inflated costs of relief food for meant for the poor during the first covid19 lockdown.

 

Shs.3.6bn was recovered from the inflated compensation figures of the Project Affected Persons of Bukasa Inland Project. Other monies recovered include Shs.85m from a fraudster, Shs.161m from Jinja, Nansana and municipalities as well as Shs.21m from Butebo District. Shs.1.5bn was recovered from labor export companies who had fleeced unemployed youths and Shs.738m was recovered from a gaming company.

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