Museveni Swears in New Leadership Code Tribunal

President Yoweri  Museveni has presided over the official swearing in ceremony of the new members of the Leadership Code Tribunal at State House Entebbe.

Members of the Leadership Code Tribunal sworn in yesterday are Dr. Roselyn Irene Karugonjo Ssegawa, the Tribunal Chairperson and deputized by Hon. Asuman Kiyingi. Other Tribunal members   are Miss Jane Arume Okellowange, Mr. Didas Bakunzi Mufasha and Miss Joyce Nalunga Birimumaaso.

The Tribunal was appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judiciary Service Commission and with approval of Parliament.

In 2002, Parliament enacted the Leadership Code Act (2002), which provided detailed enforcement procedures for the Inspectorate of Government in fulfillment of the constitutional objectives of promotion and maintenance of Honesty, Probity, Impartiality and Integrity in Public Affairs and protection of public funds and property.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said that all these efforts by government are aimed at protecting the country and cleaning up public service.

The President said protection of the country is done by three groups including Defence Forces who protect the country against foreign armies, terrorists or armed rebels.

“You can call this stability institutions to deal with war either from outside or inside. There is also unconstitutional ways of causing war e.g. demonstrations, riots etc. and crime, e.g. murders, embezzlements etc,” President Museveni said.

He said that because crime was very broad, government decided to add the office of the IGG to supplement the work of police.

“If the police arrest somebody, they take him or her to the judiciary to judge his case and punish him. That’s why we have problems with LDU who are beating people because they are using traditional justice methods,” he said.

The Leadership Code tribunal the President said comes in the public service mainly to have clean leaders because it is both retroactive and proactive. “This is where you deal with leaders for their past mistakes,” he said.

President Museveni said that the Tribunal deals with other aspects of bad leadership including crime, which could have been committed and hidden.

“It’s also to supplement police and also eliminate and be proactive when it comes to prospective crimes,” he said.

The President assured the Country that this is not a duplication of roles with other Government institutions but rather a supplement for efficiency.

“We already have the police and IGG but we still have a lot of corruption in the public service that is why initiated the Anti-Corruption Unit in State House and now this tribunal,” he said.

The President called upon members of the Leadership Code Tribunal and other Institutions of Government to perfect the fight against corruption so that we help our people.

“Be careful with the people you use to get information. Get credible people,” he said.

The Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity Father Simon Lokodo described this as another milestone and evidence of the President’s zero tolerance to corruption.

Father Lokodo said that the European Union gave them support and resources to operationalize the Leadership Code Tribunal, the first of its kind in Uganda and Eastern Africa.

The Ag. Chief Justice, Owiny Dollo said that the establishment of the Leadership Code Tribunal speaks loud about the President’s conviction that leaders must be accountable.

“The Rule of law for which you went to the bush must prevail in this country. As the Judiciary of Uganda we welcome the tribunal. It will complement the role of judiciary,” he said.