President Museveni has absolved himself of total responsibility in the war against corruption and instead accused state agencies of not doing their work in exposing those behind the theft of government officials.
According to the President, he appoints people under him who must do their work of investigating and prosecuting the thieves.
He said as the President, he must follow the law. He was on Tuesday, 11 April 2023 responding to tweets by his followers who said as the head of state, he must take action against some of his ministers and other government officials implicated in the iron sheets scandal.
“Yes, but I must follow the law and the Constitution. These involve the Police to investigate, the government lawyers to prosecute and the Judges to convict and punish or acquit. Actually, the President comes in remotely in fighting crime,” Mr Museveni said.
“He has powers over the political appointments to some extent by appointing Ministers, RDCs, etc. He must, however, have clear evidence in order for him not to appoint so and so or dismiss him or her. Otherwise, it will cause new problems of lack of cohesion, of complaints about unfairness etc. That is why the whole issue goes back to the question of evidence and the need for the public (the citizens, the farmers, the manufacturers, the artisans, the service providers), who, most of the time, are the victims of these corrupt officials and politicians, to be involved,” he added.
Mr Museveni explained that the President is the head of the Executive and all Executive Authority is given to him or her by Article 99 (1) of the 1995 Constitution. However, he said that he must exercise that power according to the Constitution and the laws of Uganda.
“Otherwise, that wonderful President, will become a problem himself or herself. The President is neither a Principal Crimes Officer nor even a minor one of the Republic of Uganda. That role and power is given to three officials: Director CID for crime, , crime (murder, rape, embezzlement, etc.); Director –General ISO (for political crime- subversion, espionage- but only for intelligence gathering and not for arrests, prosecution etc.); and DPP for prosecution,” he added.
Mr Museveni explained that a President is neither a principal nor even a minor financial controller of the state money and assets.
“That role and power is given to five persons in Uganda: the Permanent Secretary in a ministry; The CEO in a parastatal or agency; the town clerk in a city or a municipality; the CAO in a district; and the sub-county chief in a sub-county. These five, are the custodians of government money, assets and personnel issues of public servants. The President and other political leaders exercise power given to them by the Constitution through making policy, legislation and, sometimes, creating new departments or agencies to achieve certain tasks,” he added.
The President also insisted that his government is not failed one.
“This is not a failing system, but a growing system that could be faster if it was not for the corruption and the colonial mentality of some of the civil servants and some members of the political class.
In other words, the progress could have been much faster and will be faster once we deal with the obstacles. Who has been responsible for the growth? Three players: the UPDF; the wealth creators (the farmers, the manufacturers, the service providers); and the infrastructure builders.
The NRA/ UPDF has maintained peace and the wealth creators have been able to grow the economy, the sabotage by some of the corrupt civil servants and politicians notwithstanding.”
