Graft costs Uganda $100 m a year
2001-04-16 18:05
Kampala - Uganda loses up to 115 million dollars through corruption in the
government each year, an NGO report released here on Monday said.
The Uganda Debt Network (UDN), which is campaigning for a reduction
of the country's foreign debt, said its report was compiled from
careful scrutiny of official reports of the Auditor General, which
it said exposed "just a tip of the iceberg."
UDN official Zie Gariyo told reporters that "embezzlement, fraud,
diversion of public funds are the main channels through which the
loss occurs, with some more lost through improper accountability."
He added: "The list of public enterprises where huge chunks of
public resources have been misused reads like the Who's Who of
Uganda."
Gariyo said the UDN report catalogues how public officials have
abused their offices and misused public resources, and gives as an
example local government authorities who divert money meant for
social services such as education.
He said that Uganda, ranked 11th in the list of the world's most
corrupt countries, would be able to reduce its debt burden if more
stern measures were instituted by the government to fight
corruption.
Uganda's foreign debt is currently put at 3.65 billion dollars,
while debt servicing eats up a big chunk of its budget. Donors fund
63 percent of Uganda's development budget.
According to the UDN report, the Ugandan treasury loses 200 billion
shillings ($115 million) every year through corruption in
government departments, particularly at high levels, involving both
public officials and influential politicians.
Up to $ million dollars has been lost in the last seven years,
the report said. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA