JEEMA Accuses Political Elite of Undermining Anti-Graft Institutions

Justice Forum (JEEMA) is sounding the alarm on what it terms the deliberate weakening of Uganda’s anti-corruption mechanisms. The opposition party argues that the nation’s political class is actively undermining accountability institutions, making it exceedingly difficult to combat graft and recover public resources lost to corruption.

JEEMA spokesperson Swaibu Nsereko highlighted the stark contrast between the trillions of shillings lost annually to corruption and the mere billions reportedly recovered. The party asserts that Uganda’s core governance issue lies not with a scarcity of resources but with a deficit of integrity among its leaders.

Concerns are also being raised about the “monetisation of politics.” Florence Akiiki, who vied for the Speakership, shared a disheartening experience at a recent NRM parliamentary retreat where colleagues openly solicited financial payments in exchange for their votes, describing the situation as “a disgrace.”

Civil society leaders echo these sentiments, with Julius Mukunda of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group lamenting that while Uganda possesses strong anti-corruption laws on paper, the practical ability to enforce them has “reduced tremendously.” He criticized Parliament for its perceived failure in oversight, suggesting it has become “transactional” and often ignores executive recommendations.

Mukunda further elaborated that accountability systems have been intentionally undermined, making it challenging for the Inspectorate of General of Government (IGG) to investigate the suspicious wealth of senior officials. He suggested that this weakening is a deliberate act by the “political class” due to their proximity to government resources.

The consequences of this widespread corruption, JEEMA argues, are tangible, manifesting in underfunded schools, depleted medicine stocks in health centers, and deteriorating road infrastructure.

Looking ahead, JEEMA has pledged to champion transparent budgeting, robust whistleblower protection, citizen oversight, and merit-based public appointments should they gain power, aiming to fortify the nation’s accountability framework.

This report was based on information from the Daily Monitor.