Nairobi — News filtering out of the system indicates that Uganda's energy ministry is about to release another $7 million to power distributor Umeme, ostensibly to stabilise consumer tariffs until year-end.

Coming on the back of a probe report suggesting that Umeme has been overcharging consumers by as much as 44 per cent, the move is to say the least intriguing.

Although the payout has been reportedly made at the behest of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, the sector regulator, the quiet nature of its execution is cause for alarm.

This is especially so because, as the current audit report on public expenditure on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit demonstrates, the culture of impunity in respect to management of public resources is only getting worse.

If the haemorrhage is to stop, Uganda must adopt a regime of undiscriminating enforcement of the law. At the end of the day, the real choice is between saving individuals, or Uganda.