Corruption, as defined by Wikipedia, is spiritual or moral impunity or deviation from an ideal situation. Corruption may include many activities like bribery and embezzlement.
Uganda has been sighted as one of the most corrupt countries in the world with Bureaucratic corruption (Bribery, Nepotism, Misuse of official positions and resources), aided by complex regulatory procedures and red tape and, political corruption (political patronage, favoritism – giving Jobs to friend and relatives, and influencing election outcomes using food, gifts and money), being the most common practices.
In order to attempt prescribe ‘medication’ for this disease, a diagnosis of the cause needs to be done. My simple explanation is that poverty levels among Ugandans – especially the majority living in rural areas and practicing subsistence farming, coupled with large and extended families, is giving pressure to the few employed Ugandans to obtain resources – using every means possible, to support these extended families. The Rich on the other side are trying as much as possible to hold on to the opportunities that they have such that they pass these down the generation lane.
84.6% of Ugandans live in rural areas and practice subsistence farming as a source of income and food for meeting household basic needs and development needs. The poor education standards in the rural schools has led to high drop outs and poor grades creating a pool of unproductive citizens and making students in rural institutions to be out competed in the struggle to join Superior Schools and institutions in the country. This has led to a few persons among this large vulnerable population to make it to the Job market and therefore strive to help their counterparts. Racial tendencies and preferential treatment based on relationships has exacerbated the Ugandan Situation where by the Rich want to maintain grip on all the resources and passing them from one generation to another.
– Let’s improve on the education system in the country by promoting skills training and an enabling environment for success. This will lead to productive citizens and equality in wealth distribution.
– Let’s empower the citizens living in rural Uganda to be able to produce more food and practice farming as a business. This can be achieved through increased advisory services provision and making available improved seed and livestock varieties. More food production translates to increased incomes and food security.
– Let’s fight nepotism, favoritism, ethnicity and related ills and give equal opportunities for employment and service provision. This will remove the “Winner takes it all” attitude among the working and political class in Uganda.
– Media freedoms should not be curtailed in any way and freedom of speech and peaceful demonstrations should be promoted. These will unearth the corrupt by eliminating ignorance among the masses of the prevailing corruption situation – informing the society.
– Strengthen institutions like the police, the judiciary, the Inspectorate of government among others involved in ensuring that justice prevails in the country. This can be achieved by having qualified persons recruited on merit in these positions and, having the political will to support the institutions to operate without interference.
– Let’s promote family planning education and access to services. This will lead to increased responsibility among household heads and, reduce pressure among the few Ugandans employed in the formal sector from taking care of extended families. The resources available, however little they are, shall be adequate if proper planning is undertaken.
– Let’s strive to have peace by denouncing insurgencies that destabilize people’s livelihoods and, lets’ be able to tolerate each other’s mistakes.
The task of the young people is cut out; to use their numbers, energy and positive attitudes to promote positive change as par the ‘Prescriptions’ stated above through participating in advocacy campaigns, documenting and sharing experiences and getting involved in community led projects for that ensure Sustainability.