Counting: The ‘accused corrupt’ that missed the Anti-Corruption walk

President Museveni on Wednesday led officials from different government agencies, civil society, traditional, religious leaders and well-wishers in the anti-corruption walk.

The walk that started at City Square in Kampala CBD climaxed at Kololo Ceremonial grounds with a keynote speech from President Museveni and an awarding ceremony for specific people that have clenched their fists in the face of corruption.

While the anti-corruption walk was not itself a means to end the vice, but a ‘symbolism’ of Museveni and his government’s willingness to use available and future means towards a corruption-free Uganda.

Nonetheless, the walk was highlighted by the presence of Museveni and its aim deflated by the absence of most of his ministers, notably those who have once been spotted in corruption-related scandals.

Irrespective of how the scandals ended, a certain section of Ugandans (if not all) expected to see the cause on the faces of those who have been bitten by the corruption snake.

Nile Post takes count of specific government officials whose absence and the anti-corruption walk screams loud:

Pius Bigirimana
Currently, the permanent secretary for Judiciary, Bigirimana at one time would be the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind when corruption was mentioned.

Indeed, in May 2017, Bigirimana was rejected by Umeme Shareholders as one of the board directors because they were uneasy about his tainted image over alleged corrupt tendencies.

In 2014, Bigirimana was accused of failing to take responsibility when over Shs 50 billion of donor money meant for Karamoja and post-war reconstruction of northern Uganda was stolen under his watch at the Office of Prime Minister.

Bigirimana has also come under scrutiny before the land probe commission after he reportedly requested and received Shs 504 million from the Land Fund in 2016 for 50.5 acres of land on plot 5 Bulemeezi, block 103 that had been encroached on by squatters despite not qualifying for the compensation.

To add icing on the cake, Gen Elly Tumwine in a live interview on a local radio station called Bigirimana a ‘thief’.

Bigirimana has however time and again passed as the innocent one, who is only accused because he fights the corrupt and he even launched a book about corruption titled; Corruption; A Tale of Two Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing and he passed as the whistleblower he is, and one who does not smile in the face of corruption.

Well, there was a walk to take, alongside those willing to fight against corruption and he was no show! Is it conscience?

Keith Muhakanizi
The secretary to the treasury had a few run-ins on corruption-related cases in 2017, but he survived unscathed.

In July 2018, he was accused of grabbing 250 acres of land in Lyantonde District. UPDF Gen and minister for security Elly Tumwine has once on air labeled him a thief.

Muhakanizi was also in his position when the government lost so much money to ghost civil servants.

But he could be far from it, no incriminating evidence. Indeed, Muhakanizi in August 2014 apologised to Ugandan taxpayers for billions of money lost through corruption in government via ghost employees. In the Apology, he exonerated himself as thus;

“I sincerely apologize to you for these ghosts and I have to confess that there was laxity in the system. I was there (finance ministry) but the way the system was you could not catch anybody,” he said.

The walk could have been a time for him to make a few nonverbal statements, but was he there? NO.

Sam Kutesa

Yes, Sam Kutesa was available at the event and arrived cruising, in other words, he chose a short cut to the venue. Besides that, he was the joke of the day on social media as Ugandans really wondered if he would participate, but some credit- he was there.

Mwesigwa Rukutana
Currently the deputy Attorney General, Rukutana was spotted in a corruption scandal more than a decade ago during the Chogm.

By the time, Rukutana was a junior minister in the Ministry of Labour. He together with Kutesa and John Nasasira (then government chief whip) was accused of causing financial loss and gross abuse of office.

Uganda lost $150m in that Chogm scandal, and Rukutana and the group stepped aside to allow investigations that led almost nowhere. For that matter, he should have walked.

John Nasasira
The man accused of ‘eating’ a whole lane of the Northern Bypass while he was still Transport Minister. Nasasira was also implicated in the Chogm scandal.
However, give it to him, Nasasira is the minister who blew the lid off the Valley dam corruption scandal involving Vice President Specioza Kazibwe. It is because of him that Shs800m theft on the valley dam in Mbarara was brought to the attention of citizens.

For that matter, he should have walked.

Specioza Wandira Kazibwe

The woman of valley dams. Uganda lost Shs3b on valley dams while Kazibwe was the minister for agriculture, animal industry and fisheries in 1999. She has continued to deny the allegations to date.

Also in 2011, Sh60b went missing from Microfinance Support Centre in a record three months. Former Vice-President Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, who was the board chairperson, was subsequently suspended over allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement in the office she assumed in 2008.

This walk could have been symbolic enough for her.

Kirunda Kivejinja
The second deputy Prime Minister was at the center stage of the famous National ID scandal (2010) alongside Kiddu Makubuya and a one Steven Kagoda. For Shs150b, the group oversaw the production of only 400 national Identity Cards! Oh yes, they should have walked.

Jim Muhwezi, Mike Mukula, and Alex Kamugisha

These had their own share of Global Fund trouble after Shs98.5b meant for malaria and tuberculosis drugs programs went missing. They were squeezed, rinsed and hanged as the government tried to recover the monies. In the end, Teddy Cheeye and Fred Kavuma paid for everyone’s sins and like that the case was rested.

For their innocence, Muhwezi and his colleagues should join the walk.

John Byabagambi
The former minister of state for works and current minister for Karamoja was implicated in the loss of money during the 2007 Chogm. He was also implicated in the Katosi road scam together with Abraham Byandala but acquitted. Nevertheless, the two should have been part of the walk if their conscience is clear

BoU staff
For the controversial transfer of Shs350b from France, for the strange sale of commercial banks, for the alleged printing of over Shs90b, for putting the nation on hold over this specific scandal. BoU headed by their governor and staff ought to have had a very huge banner during and walked.

Amama Mbabazi
He is not in government anymore, but he has political ambitions. Let him walk for the sake of giving hope.

Gilbert Bukenya
Same as Mbabazi.

Evelyn Anite
The Minister is the recent person to fight mafias. She was accused of having selfish interests in UTL, she also accused certain people of the same and said she would fight till the end. Well she won and what a way to climax the issue and also put it in the faces of her enemies by joining the Anti-corruption walk, but was she there? No.

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