Kampala — Last week, the director of economic monitoring in the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Teddy Ssezi Cheeye; former UBC producer Fred Kavuma and three officials of a non-governmental organisation who are accused of misappropriating Global Fund money were sent to prison.

A reminder that corruption is still rampant in Uganda. Corruption is defined as an act done with intent to give some advantage inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others. This could be bribery, embezzlement, favouritism and the use of public office for selfish gain.

Corruption has become a means of livelihood in Uganda, with ordinary citizens glorifying some high-ranking officials involved in the practice.

The Government should adopt a policy of seizing property belonging to corrupt public officials and their associates, irrespective of whether they acquired the property before being implicated in corruption.

I do not subscribe to the idea of sentencing corrupt persons to jail because when they are released they start enjoying the wealth they acquired dubiously. If their properties are seized and auctioned, the Government will recover the stolen money and use it to improve the lives of poor citizens.

All persons found guilty by courts should be given suspended jail sentences and forfeit all their property to the state. In this way, we would have part of the stolen money returned to the treasury.

What is the logic in sentencing a person to a jail term of 14 years when you can seize his or her property to recover the money?

Once the Government starts confiscating property, corruption will reduce because people will fear losing their property whose value may be more than what they stole.

The confiscation policy would impoverish those involved in corruption, which would serve as an example to others with similar intentions. The Government might face difficulties in implementing this policy because our laws require proof that the said official acquired the property through corruption. But, confiscating the property to check corruption is the way to go.

The writer is a Ugandan research Journalist based in Johannesburg South Africa