Uganda: We Need Harsher Penalties to End Corruption in Uganda

opinion

Recently, government signed a Shs740 billion Global Fund grant towards the fight against HIV/Aids, prevention of Tuberculosis and health systems strengthening. In 2005, Uganda lost up to Shs600 billion under the same fund in a corruption scandal that left the country's health sector limping and in 2007, the Global Fund terminated two grants to Uganda amounting to $16 million because of unsatisfactory performance. These negative strides cost the nation's progress towards malaria and Tuberculosis control remarkably.

With the signing of the new grant, it is important to mention that government should put in place proper systems and measures for transparency and accountability in the utilisation of these resources to ensure the objectives of the fund are met. Harsher penalties need to be laid out for public officials found guilty of stealing public funds, beyond dismissal, as Finance minister Matia Kasaija warned during the signing of the grant.

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