QFM
There are no corrupt leaders in Lango, says Lira district LCV boss
2 March 2023, 8:17 pm
By Frank Oyugi
Lira district LCV chairperson Richard Cox Max Okello Orik has told the Inspector General of Government that Lango sub-region does not have corrupt leaders.
It should however be recalled that Lira, Alebtong and Amolatar districts all in Lango sub-region had their civil servants probed by the State House anti-corruption unit over graft in the recent past and some were interdicted.
“If you are looking for sincere and honest people, they are here in Lango, they are not corrupt” Okello said.
He was on Wednesday speaking at the launch of the government online system for declaration of wealth at Lira Mayor’s Gardens
His speech was however contradicted by Lira Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole who said we have leaders and public servants who do not know God, they lie with impunity”
Mr. Egole wondered why such people would not want to declare their wealth if indeed they acquired it genuinely and added that declaration incomes, assets and liabilities by leaders will ensue that funds are used appropriately.
Meanwhile Uganda’s 3rd deputy prime minister Rukia Nakadama expressed fears that Uganda’s democracy and good governance is being threatened by corruption tendencies that has riddled the country.
She was the chief guest during the national launch of the Inspectorate of Government Online Declaration System-IG-ODS where she also publicly opened the IGG portal and publicly declared her incomes, assets and liabilities as the crowd watched on a digital screen.
“Transparency is a strong foundation of democracy and leaders should serve their people with transparency and integrity and declaration of wealth will help us to achieve this” prime minister Nakadama Isanga asserted.
In 2016, the Inspectorate of Government launched the online declaration system that enables leaders to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities using a web-based database system. This is in tandem with Section 41 (1) (b) of the Leadership Code Act of July 2002 in which specified leaders are required to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities.
According to the prime minister, declaration of wealth is not just about compliance with the law but leading by example and serving the public in trust and integrity and to ensure that the community have access to effective service delivery because they are the tax payers.
Lilly Rose Akello, the state minister for ethics and integrity in her speech urged the leaders and public officers to declare their incomes, assets and liabilities within the stipulated time of 1st -31st March 2023 to avoid penalties.
She also used the occasion to rally cultural and religious leaders and the community to detest homosexuality and Lesbianism because it is against the African tradition and norms.
The Inspector General of Government Beti Olive Nabisango Kamya in her speech used the analogy of a family to explain theft of public funds. ‘’When you are a parent, you should follow up your child to know for instance if he has a new shirt, did you buy for him? If no, how did he buy it because he could have stolen a neighbor’s cow”
She further observed that this explains why government demands that leaders and public officers declare their incomes, assets and liabilities
To encourage the public to report corrupt officers, Kamya said I am driving a good public vehicle I don’t feel the potholes and I don’t even feel the extra cost of fuel but you will if they steal the money meant for Lira-Kamdini raod that is why you have to join the fight against corruption
The Inspectorate of Government (IG) is a constitutional body established under Chapter 13 and 14 of the Constitution of Uganda. The IG among others has the mandate of promoting and fostering strict adherence to the rule of law and the principle of natural justice and administration but most importantly to foster the elimination of corruption.