The Uganda Law Society has asked the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among and the Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Kinyamatama to withdraw the statements they made over the weekend in which they seemed to condone corruption.
“These remarks undermine the tireless efforts of various stakeholders in the fight against corruption and constitute a significant setback to the ongoing efforts to promote integrity and accountability in public administration,” ULS president Bernard Oundo said in a statement on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, during a function in Lwengo, Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Kinyamatama defended jailed Lwengo MP Cissy Namujju over corruption.
“If she(Namujju) stole as we all hear, she has been sharing [the loot] with people ofLwengo,” Kinyamatama chanted.
Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among said, “You are better off having a child who eats and brings home.”
The statements have drawn condemnation from members of the public.
According to ULS, the statements showed a dismissive attitude towards the ongoing prosecution of MPs over corruption and have been perceived as a direct effort to condone corruption that it says shouldn’t happen from national leaders.
“The National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy XXVI mandate that all public offices are held in trust for the people, and all persons in positions of leadership and responsibility must be answerable to the people,” he said.
” In line with the Anti-Corruption Act 2009, it imposes a duty on every citizen of Uganda to combat corruption and the misuse or wastage of public property and all acts of corruption and extortion which erode public trust in the public sector, promote inequality and diminish accountability,” he said.
The law society said it will continue being a proficient bar association in fostering access to justice, the rule of law, and good governance in Uganda.
The development comes against the backdrop of a campaign launched by activists to “annoy” government officials involved in corruption.
