Students at the Mukono- based Uganda Christian University(UCU) have formed a group that will help to fight the wide spread corruption scandal in Uganda.

The team was a result of the five- day event at the Department of Public Administration and Governance under the theme: “Towards a more strategic partnership in the fight against corruption in Uganda.”

The coalition that was formulated on October 29, 2019 was inspired by scripture of Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

Dennis Kakembo, a second-year Law student at UCU said the war against corruption starts with “we” the people.

Cissy Kagaba, Executive Director of the Uganda Anti-Corruption Coalition emphasized Kakembo’s argument stating poverty is not a cause of corruption as cheating in exams and being late for class is another are also forms of corruption.

“We tend to forget and put the blame on government, but imagine a traffic officer stops you and immediately you pull out money to give him or her (to avoid a ticket) even when they did not ask for it, then you are corrupt.” Kagaba remarked.

The coalition in show of solidarity: FILE PHOTO

“Poverty is just a force that places people in the position of need all the time,” Dr. Benon Musinguzi, the UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs explained.

“We are privileged that our students and graduates emulate the core values of the University diligence and integrity being among them,” Martin Kizito, the Head of Department Public Administration and Governance at UCU said.

“If the fight against corruption is to be a success especially amongst the youth, then other Universities should take up this initiative so that we can all stand up and fight for the same cause,” said Phillips Odwokacen, a Lecturer at UCU.

The coalition is formed at the time when Uganda is facing high levels of corruption cases and according to the Berlin-based Transparency International group global corruption statistics of 180 countries, Uganda was placed among the most corrupt with 26 of 100 points.

The least corrupt nation in the world, New Zealand, had 89 of 100 points.

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