President Yoweri Museveni has commended the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for taking a firm stand against the corrupt in Uganda, describing the vice as one of the brakes that are slowing down the rate of economic growth of the country.
“Our big problem now is corruption of public officials. This is what is slowing down our rate of growth and I am very glad that you are very harsh on it. The DPP Jane Abodo said that those people must go to jail, must lose opportunities of leadership and must pay back everything they have stolen. So, in that way your economy will grow much faster,” he observed.
The President made the remarks on Friday as the Chief Guest at the 6th Joan Kagezi Memorial Lecture. Joan Kagezi who was the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions was killed on the night of 15th March 2015 at Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb while on her way to her residence.
The event that was held at Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo run under the Theme: ‘Organized Crime and the Necessity for Witness Protection’ attracted all Prosecutors from the country who had just concluded their 3-day symposium where they reviewed their performances and also shared experiences as well as challenges in the course of delivering Justice to the people of Uganda.
The Prosecutors at the 3-day 2nd Annual Symposium were also equipped with the knowledge and skills in effective management and prosecution of emerging organized crimes and the major concern of the security for prosecutors and witnesses.
Commenting on the day’s event, President Museveni said despite some complications on apprehending the culprits responsible for the killing of Joan Kagezi all avenues and methods should be used to expose the killers and bring them to book.
“There may be some complications especially when the killers are living abroad, but I think that does not stop us from exposing them whatever the complications or using any methods to get to them,” he said.
The President told the gathering that he has been watching the unfolding of events in Uganda since 1960 and all those who participate in the killings end up becoming losers. He added that when innocent people are slain unfairly and prematurely, the National Resistance Movement concentrates on continuing with the struggle ‘Aluta Continua’ and eventually the perpetrators will pay dearly.
He said the bigger group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that was responsible for these atrocities have been pursued and punished and sent where they sent the late Kagezi.
He pledged to make a follow up with the new administration of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) Chief AIGP Tom Magambo in pursuit of the direct killers of Joan Kagezi. “You know what we have done with ADF, and we are not yet finished. We are sending them where they sent Kagezi.
The bigger group I am handling them in the DR Congo but there are particular ones who must be held accountable,” he stressed adding that these killings are really very shallow. You kill okay but are you going to live forever yourself? The killing simply means you made me depart from earth a bit early but in the end, you will also come,” he observed.
President Museveni however told the gathering that the Government took over the responsibility of educating the children of the late Kagezi who is still alive through them as the lineage has not been terminated.