Strengthening the Anti Corruption Measures and Maintaining Pressure In Uganda

Presenter

Ashaba Aheebwa Director Ethics Office of the President Uganda

[email protected]

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The vision

A Society that Respects and Cherishes Integrity.

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The Mission

 To minimize the incidence of Corruption and Unethical conduct in public office and establish a sustainable Integrity System 4

Historical Perspective

At Independence in 1962 Uganda had

 One of the best economies on the Continent  A very strong, well Resourced and Ethical Civil Service  A strong Academic Foundation  A Well grounded Ethical Value System 5

Causation Factors

Corruption in Uganda derives from:

 Past Political Mismanagement  Over centralization of power and resources  Bureaucratic Bottlenecks  Social Stratification Factors   Poorly Managed and Bloated Civil Service Individual Human Weakness  Disenfranchised Society

Result: Systemic Corruption

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First Responses

Use Traditional Reactive Measures

 Anti Corruption Law 1970  Internal Audits and procedures  External Audit  Political Sanctions  Over concentration pf power and Resources  Military Intervention 1970

No Proactive or preventive Measures

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Results

       Poor Resource Envelop No Policy Direction Disrupted political, Economic and administrative Systems Anarchy and state inspired insecurity Total Economic Collapse Wide spread scarcity of goods and services Official use of position for personal or group gain

Systemic Corruption Persisted

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Responses of Mid 1980s

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Holistic and Overarching strategy:

 Constitutional and other Reforms  An independent anti corruption agency (IGG)  Involvement of more Government MDAs   Bringing on Board of Civil Society Organizations Creation of conducive Environment for the Media Regular interaction with Development Partners Ethics courses with Academic Institutions Respect for Institutions Independence

Coordination under Presidents Office

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Emphasis

          Coordination of Efforts Constitutional Reforms Economic Liberalization Decentralization of Power and Resources Decentralization of Procurement Regular Public Service Reforms Regular Pay Reviews Political Clout and Representation Ethics Education and Integrity Promotion Mobilization of the general public 10

Implementation Mechanisms

The implementation is guided by:

 The National Poverty Eradication Action Plan  Poverty Reduction Support Credit Prior Actions  Regular Interagency Policy Reviews  Joint Stakeholders Reviews   Coalition Building Workshops Interagency Task Forces  Agency Specific Mandates 11

Priority Areas

       Strengthening Capacities Strengthening the Procurement System Regular Public Sector Pay-reforms Strengthening Financial Accountability Ensuring Coordinated Implementation Country Wide Ethics Education Creating Conducive Environment for non-state Actors 12

Maintaining the Pressure

The Pressure Points

  Legal Pressure Institutional Pressure   Information Pressure Non State Pressure  International Pressure 13

Legal Pressure

       Use of Peoples’ Power in the 1995 Constitution Complaints handling by Inspectorate Regular Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Regular Procurement Inspections Responsive Commissions of Inquiry Freedom to Access Public Information Proscription of gifts and any form of gratis 14

Institutional Pressure

            Inspectorate of Government Ombudsman Role Inspectorate of Government Oversight Role Decentralization of Procurement Financial Commitment Control System Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Local Governments Accounts Committee Treasury Memoranda Parliamentary Fraud Squad Districts Accounts Committee Political Pluralism Censure Motions In Parliament Regular Integrity Surveys 15

Standards Pressure

          The Leadership Code Act Conflict of Interest Provisions Civil service Code of Conduct and Ethics Discussions on National Values Consultations on Schools Ethics Curriculum Generic Ethics Training Curriculum Client /Citizens Charters Codes for Professionals and Policy Makers Regulatory Best Practices Integrity Awards 16

Communication Pressure

         Communication Strategy Training in Ethics and Integrity Media Programs Print Media Pullouts Access to Public Information Publication of funds to Local Governments Regular Press Briefings Regular reports Public Service Client Charters 17

Coalition Pressure

 Ratification of International Conventions  Development Partners Prior Actions  Joint Reviews with various Stakeholders  Political Response  Civic Pressure 18

Non- State Actors Pressure

 Regular Development partners Reviews  Media Exposure  Civil Society Actions  Media Debates and Surveys 19

Results

 Increased Participation of Non State Actors  More Involvement of the Public  More Focused Interventions  Better Coordinated work and Synergy  Optimal Use of Scarce Resources  Improved National Image 20

Challenges

          National Resource Envelop still small Anti corruption Institutions Still under resourced Legal Environment Not Yet Fully Reformed Skilled Personnel Corruption Information Management Public Still Glorifies the Corrupt Public apathy Some Policies contradict anti corruption efforts Civil Society is still small and very weak Globalization introduces its own dimensions 21

Some Lessons

        Each County needs its own Unique Home Grown Policy Framework Interagency Collaboration cannot be substituted Anti corruption requires enough Resources International Cooperation is vital Patience is vital for Behavioral Change Requires strong Civic Participation Need to bring the Business Sector on Board A stable and Conducive political Atmosphere 22

Recommendations

          Set up Interagency Forum Periodic Performance Reviews Condition for Civic Anti Corruption Activities Conducting Regular Integrity Surveys Mainstream Ethics and Integrity Issues in all activities Set up and Strengthen Oversight Institutions Support Media Regular Exposure Set Up reward Systems Create mechanisms to make corruption risky Have Zero Tolerance Stance 23

Gratis

Thank You For Your Attention

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