Muntu: Uganda's anti-graft war needs institutional overhaul, not just individual purges

The fight against corruption in Uganda requires a fundamental shift towards bolstering institutional capacity rather than focusing on individual scapegoats, according to Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party leader, Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Mugisha Muntu.

Speaking at a post-election review meeting with ANT candidates and coordinators in Mbarara City, Muntu emphasized that corruption in Uganda has become a deeply ingrained, systemic issue. He argued that merely targeting individuals, even in high-profile cases, will not yield lasting change without addressing the structural weaknesses within anti-corruption bodies.

Muntu linked the effectiveness of any anti-corruption initiative to the financial health and operational independence of key institutions. “If you want to see any government which is serious in fighting corruption, see the funding that they put behind the institutions which fight corruption,” he stated. He specifically mentioned the need for increased resources and improved recruitment and training for the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The former military chief cautioned that selective anti-corruption purges risk morphing into political ferramentas. “It’s amazing when you find the corrupt roasting the corrupt. They must be above it themselves and consistent,” Muntu observed, warning that a fight pits individuals against each other will never succeed.

Happening amid heightened scrutiny of former Speaker Anita Among, who faces allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth, Muntu’s remarks underscore a call for indiscriminate action and robust institutional support. He urged ANT members to remain resilient and focused on their mission of political transformation, despite the party’s financial constraints and election setbacks.

This perspective highlights a critical need for comprehensive reform within Uganda’s governance structures to effectively combat endemic graft. Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)