The Terego District Woman Member of Parliament, Rose Obigah, has asked officials from State House to stop massaging corruption, saying that if it requires Uganda to adopt punitive punishments like killing people found guilty of corruption through the firing squad, then that should be adopted.

“I need punitive action on corruption. If we are just going to continue massaging corruption, I am telling you, we are just going to continue facing embarrassment,” she said in Parliament.

“There is too much corruption, what can we do together? We need something punitive, no more talking even if it meant firing squad, I think I will go for that. It is too much, it is bothering us day and night,” she added.

The MP was reacting to a communication by Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Security, in which he blamed the rampant corruption in Uganda on the refusal by witnesses to testify in court against corrupt suspects. 

Muhwezi said many people only lament about the corruption but refuse to report and give evidence which could help fight corruption in Uganda.

“But otherwise, there is also a problem, people say like we are all saying, and when you say, come and tell me and let us go and arrest, they say, let this not be from me,”

“This corruption isn’t by public officers, as you know even in our private engagements with society, people are corrupt. You give them work, they steal. So there is a vice, it is a disease, it needs to be fought broadly,” said Muhwezi.

Muhwezi’s remarks were in response to questions raised by MPs on Presidential Affairs Committee, who wondered why corruption continues to increase despite the several anti-corruption agencies that have been created by President Museveni under State House. 

Muhwezi had led the team from Satte House and Security agencies to present the 2024/25 national budget framework paper.

State House is seeking for Shs57.14Bn to buy new security equipment, household items and vehicles for the presidency. However, only Shs21.722Bn has been allocated in the 2024/25 national budget, thus leaving the Presidency with a funding gap of Shs35.418Bn.

According to the breakdown, State House is seeking for Shs14.401Bn to continue with the process of refurbishing Entebbe State House, another Shs13.468Bn to procure new security equipment. State House is also seeking for Shs6.549Bn to procure vehicles for the President as well as another Shs8Bn for travel abroad.

Jane Barekye, State House Comptroller, defended the need to procure new vehicles for the Presidency noting, “For the smooth operations of the Presidency, State House operates various equipment for security, household, press, office and transport. The operations of the Presidency require a large fleet of vehicles for both the Principals and support staff. State House also operates a Presidential jet and helicopter,”

In the 2024/25 national budget, State House is seeking for additional Shs30Bn for presidential donations & an additional Shs16.986Bn, for payment of staff allowances, an expenditure, Barekye defended saying that in execution of its mandate of facilitating the Presidency, State House’s operations are largely field based, thus requiring payment of allowances to its staff.

“As a cost saving measure, staff are paid an out of pocket allowance and not paid per diem for the field operations. In lieu of the per diem, the staff are paid a monthly consolidated package. Given the increasing numbers of both regular staff and SFC who are paid a food basket allowance, the item has a shortfall of Shs16.986Bn,” noted Barekye.