17 May 2007
editorial
The Ugandan public generally does not appear tuned into Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative (Gavi) scandal in which the Ministry of Health, under former Minister Jim Muhwezi, has failed to properly account for Shs1.5 billion. What explains this reaction?
Could it lie in the ironical fact that despite several inquiries into suspected corruption in the junk helicopters deal, Uganda Revenue Authority and ghost soldiers, nobody has ever gone to jail or been prosecuted? Or is it because the Ugandan public has become a little cynical about the government's stated zero tolerance for corruption?
These are questions which should make the President to reflect on his administration. Not for the first time, yet another inquiry into misappropriation of public funds has named a close family member of his. The First Lady has been adversely named in the way Gavi funds were spent, although she has since issued a statement of explanation.
Pundits suggest that the public's cynicism may be because graft has become the sideshow in the real political power play currently underway in Uganda. They say that there is more than meets the eye to the Gavi scandal because, for instance, in the case of the junk helicopters, the President's brother confessed to receiving an inducement to swing the deal but the President chose to turn the other way.
Then, remember the Shs5 million given to members of parliament to vote for the lifting of presidential term limits? Whatever way you look at it this was one of the most flagrant demonstrations of political corruption.
It seems that when there are political gains to be had the country's political leadership has conveniently dithered - to the detriment of the cause of good governance. Hence, the lip service paid to the fight against graft becomes even clearer when you hear rebuttals from Muhwezi and other co-accused that the misappropriation of the Gavi funds was allegedly done with the President's knowledge. So what is driving the more than sual interest in this case?
Is it merely an opportunity for the Inspector General of Government to test her powers of arrest and prosecution in this unprecedented case against a high profile suspect?
Or is it to ward off the potential for censure made latent in the affidavit of Ms Alice Kaboyo, one of the people named in scandal?
Kaboyo has made serious allegations that could amount to improper conduct on the part of the President in dealing with public finances.
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