President Yoweri Museveni has said that criminal political leaders are a disaster to the country and warned that idealists have been replaced by careerism politicians using bribery and corruption to seek jobs rather than as a platform for strategy for direction.
The President was today swearing in justices of the courts of Judicature and one newly appointed Justice of the Court Hon. Justice Chebrion Barishake at a ceremony at State House in Entebbe.
“There was one arrested for bribing in the elections. I congratulate you! There is a political person who lost his seat recently because he stole money of the constituency. The judiciary is helping us in that battle to have criminal political leaders accountable. It is a disaster for the country! You are given money for constituency you steal it, and you are in parliament”. You are honorable…how will country move?
President Museveni said bribery disenfranchises the people and interferes with their sovereignty, adding, that what the people of Uganda don’t approve should not happen.
“But with corruption, it is like in the bible; Esau who sold his birthright. With corruption people of Uganda sell their birthright. If we don’t clean the Telephone 0414 231900/0414343308 Fax: 0414 235462 Email: Press@statehouse.go.ug P.O. Box 25497 Kampala, Uganda The Republic of Uganda STATE HOUSE Department of Press and Public Relations. News. Information. Communication PRESS RELEASE 2 political side, it will affect the army. We shall go back to square one. It is dangerous to our country,” he said. The President urged the judiciary to clean their side so that the political side (Executive and parliament) are also cleaned. “We are struggling to make young people regain ideological aims rather than just mercenary aims.. Careerism. They think politics is a job. You know what to do to clean judiciary and it will help us clean the other side,” he said. President Museveni said the generations of Uganda between the 1960s and now have had unique challenges of state and country. “As you know, there is something called state, it does not mean country. Country means the land and the people. But state means organized authority over that land and the people. You can therefore have a country without a State or a state without a country,” he said outlining the various states that Uganda has undergone. The President said Uganda had a state with two characteristics; A state which was undemocratic for most of the time and a state which was criminal in some cases; committing crimes, killing people, robbing people’s property, condoning rape, destroying animals in the national parks, etc. “The NRM government has been fighting to democratize and also de criminalize the state among other issues like integration of Africa. We had moved very well on the political side and side of army. We were building a disciplined political class. But the political class going backwards now, because idealists who were pushing NRM in earlier years have been replaced by careerists’.. job seekers. There is regression in that area – money, bribes etc quite a struggle. But I can assure you we shall defeat these traitors taking us backwards,” he said. 3 On the issue of the independence of Judiciary President Yoweri Museveni said independence does not mean fragmentation. Using a Kinyankole proverb and his recovering hand, the president said two hands must wash each other. ‘Engaro ebiri no kunabisana’ two hands must wash each other. If you want to know how difficult it is.. ask me. For the last few weeks when I injured my hand! It is very troublesome to wash with one hand….very difficult. There is no way you say this hand is independent. They are independent but must cooperate. There must be coordination somewhere,” he said. The Chief Justice Bart Katureebe congratulated judges on their elevation in profession. “This achievement in the your professional career must be guarded jealously bearing in mind the need for judges to observe at all times cardinal principals of impartiality.
The judges who were sworn in today (Supreme Court) include Justice Augustine Nshimye, Lady Justice Faith Mwondha, Justice Rubby Aweri Opio and Justice Eldad Mwangusya. Lady Justice Lillian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza was absent. For the Court of Apeal, the Justices who swore in included Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny¬Dollo, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereirwe, Lady Justice Hellen Obura and Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke.
By Joshua Mutale
President Museveni warns Judiciary against Graft Tendencies.
