Moroto, Uganda – The Local government officials from Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak, and Nabilatuk districts have been urged to respond positively to community demands for accountability.
The call was made by Dr. Ayubu Mukisa, Executive Director of Karamoja Anti-Corruption, during a training session held at Hotel Rapona in Moroto on Thursday. The training, supported by the Danish Embassy and GIZ, followed reports from anti-corruption monitors indicating that some district officials were misinterpreting community demands for accountability as witch hunts.
Dr. Mukisa emphasized the importance of community accountability in promoting development and combating corruption. He urged officials to view these demands as a positive step towards ensuring that public funds are used effectively and efficiently.
“My dear friends, these anti-corruption monitors are simply seeking information on how public funds have been spent. When project money is mismanaged, the negative impact is felt by the community, the intended beneficiaries,” he said.
It has been observed that anti-corruption monitors have increasingly taken on the role of monitoring government projects, putting significant pressure on district officials. These monitors often request financial reports for planned projects and closely monitor their implementation from start to finish.
Recently, a construction project worth Shs 200 million was nearly halted by anti-corruption monitors due to sub-standard work by the contractor, who was using excessive sand in the concrete mix. The contractor was forced to adhere to the specified ratio of three wheelbarrows of sand per bag of cement as outlined in the building agreement.
