FOWODE COMMEMORATES ANTI CORRUPTION WEEK

In commemoration of the Anti-corruption week, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) organized a parallel session in line with the 3^rd National Anti-corruption Convention. The  session which gathered women councilors from the Districts of Amuru, Amuria and Napak, Members of Parliament, human rights defenders and CSO representative was organized under the theme “Leadership with Integrity”.

Kabumba Busingye presenting a paper on “integrity with Government Institutions, during the Session on Leadership with Integrity that was part of the 3rd Anti-corruption convention to commemoration the National corruption week, 2013. 

These celebrations happened at a time when the 2013 Global Corruption Barometer by Transparency International ranks Uganda the 17^th country with highest occurrence of corruption cases.  In his presentation,  Busingye Kabumba one of the panelist at this session, pointed out that the lack of capacity in the Director of Public Prosecution’s office to handle corruption cases, lack of political will, inappropriate laws as the major challenges in combating corruption in government institutions.

Cissy Kagaba, the Executive Director of ACCU who addressed the topic of leading with integrity stated that Ugandan Society had lost trust in the leadership which is seen to be applying the law in the fight against corruption selectively. She noted that there is less accountability to the tax payers leading to paranoia in society which would slowly translate into lawlessness among the citizenry. In reaction to the panel discussions members shared experiences on accountable leadership.

Betty Lotiming is a Woman representative in Napak district Local government. She shared her experience on how she brought to the attention of her electorate that the Health Center III in Lopei Sub County in Lokudomu Parish was being ignored under the NUSAF II project and with her efforts, a wing is being constructed to house and Out Patient Department.

Another testimony was from Lucy Lemukol, a sub county councilor in Napak district, also testified that she and her fellow councilors uncovered that a civil servant at the district had diverted Ug. Shs4m which was meant for the repair of the road from Ngoleneluet to Lotome Sub County, an investigation as carried out and he was found guilty and now the district is recovering this money from his monthly salary.

In this session, emphasis was laid on individuals taking on the mantle to fight corruption, increased citizen’s access to budget information specifically how much money is sent from government for their school, roads etc. members said would improve citizen’s role in monitoring utilization of public resources and effective utilization of the tax payers’ money.  Members further called for a mechanism to award Anti-corruption activists, isolating those implicated in any financial scandal, asserting more pressure on government to implement the laws on corruption and recovery of stolen public funds. Most importantly women were urged to voice their concerns and fearlessly condemn corruption practices.

FOWODE’s efforts in fighting corruption and promoting gender accountability. 

FOWODE is an active member of the Black Monday Movement which was launched to increase awareness and pressure on government to handle corruption. In August 2013 FOWODE spearheaded the women’s organizations to produce the women’s Issue of the Black Monday Newsletter.  FOWODE dutifully organizes Black Monday Newsletter distribution events and spearheads discussions on corruption and we believe this has helped in increasing awareness on the corruption vice in our 16 districts of operation.

Additionally FOWODE has a cadre of grassroots community activists that promote grassroots led gender accountability. They monitor service delivery and engage with duty bearers on misuse of public resources many cases have been handled and corrected at that level.