CURBING CORRUPTION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN UGANDA :EXPERIENCE OF BUSHENYI DISTRICT

Presented by Bitarabeho Johnson

Chief Administration Officer,

Bushenyi District, Uganda

May, 2003

Corruption: Is “a diversion from the set/accepted norms in the course of performance of one’s public duties, for selfish personal gain”.

Historical Perspective Absence of Rule of Law Lack of Democracy and Accountability Decentralisation Policy

Forms of Corruption:

Fraud and Embezzlement.

Misappropriation of public funds

Misuse of public assets. ‘Air supply’ ‘Ghost employees’. Bribery and extortion. Nepotism and favoritism.

Economic and peer group pressures

Political turbulence Weak institutional

controls and supervision.

Moral decay, Greed and excessive ambitions.

Causes:

Effects

Disrepute to the country and its leadership Collapse of delivery of services Inequity in distribution of resources Demoralizes committed officers Demotivates development partners Weakens democratic governance. Environmental degradation.

i) National level framework:- Legal Frame work Institutional Framework

ii) District level framework: - Technical Institutions Political Institutions Boards, Commissions and Committees.

Measures to combat corruption

iii) Action taken by Bushenyi

Functional institutions Human Resource Development Bottom–up Participatory Planning

and budgeting. Consensus on resource

allocation by all stakeholders. Expenditure/budget control Multi-sectoral monitoring &

evaluation Improved reporting Public Launching of projects. Public notices on resource

allocation, Bushenyi Radio programme

Establishment of Investment and Project Management Committees at community level.

Mentoring of lower councils Greater involvement of private

sector and civil society organisations.

Prosecution of corrupt officials. Public suggestion box Anti-Corruption Week Recognising Good Performers Charter on accountability /code

of conduct for LGs

Measures to combat corruption

Improved financial management Funds reach target population Timely implementation of projects Increased

awareness, community contribution, ownership and sustainability

Improved relationship between political leaders and the technical officers in the District.

Increased participation of civil society organizations and private sector in service delivery.

Enhanced service delivery (see table below)

Impact

Service 1998 2002

Immunisation 40% 82%

Safe water 51.3% 62.5%

Literacy 56% 65%

District roads 670 kms 810 kms

District Revenue 13.9 Bn 26.4 Bn

P/S enrolment(1996-2002) Pupils 116,258 264,792

Classrooms 497

Three Seater Desks 7,452

Table on service delivery 1998 - 2002

Low household incomes Inadequate resources. Poor remuneration of public and

political leaders High salary compression ratio

(1:75) i.e. from UShs. 60,000= to UShs. 4,500,000=

Political influence Moral decadence of society. Weak Civil society organizations HIV /AIDS scourge. Weak anti-corruption institutions

Greater Political commitment at all levels

Strengthen Planning, financial management, investigation and prosecution

Make corruption an expensive venture

Strengthen roles of stakeholders - media, community, civil society, Parliament

Challenges:

Way forward:

Corruption is a cancer that eats the social, political and economic fabric of development. It requires co-operation of everybody and support by the international community.

Conclusion: