CSO PRESS STATEMENT FOR 2011 ANTI CORRUPTION WEEK ACW - 5/12/2011

Introduction

As civil society commemorates the Anti Corruption Week (ACW), we once again take a hard look at the anti corruption battle which government is losing dismally. We note that over the last decade, Government has formulated a wide range of policies, action plans, enacted laws and established several institutions to lead anti-corruption efforts. These interventions however have not achieved much in the struggle against corruption.

When we take stock of the performance of government in respect to ensuring good governance and effective service delivery, we as civil society should look at the role government anti-corruption institutions can play.

Many anti-corruption institutions have been legally established with elaborate and very promising mandates. These include the Anti-Corruption Court which has registered achievements though it faces a number of challenges that inhibit its capacity to optimally deliver on its mandate.

It is on this premise that civil society has chosen to focus by Reviewing The Effectiveness Of The Anti -Corruption Court Since Inception To-Date.

This focus is derived from the 2011 UNDP Anti Corruption day theme and CSOs believe the time to Act against corruption is now. Special focus is this year on the Anti-Corruption Court because it is a key anti-graft institution that requires support from various stakeholders to deliver on its mandate.

Uganda is one of the poor countries that is characterized by rampart corruption amidst commendable institutional and legislative government efforts to curb the vice. Endowed with an elaborative legal framework aimed at curtailing graft, statistics continue to ridicule Uganda in respect to fighting corruption. Over the past 20 years Uganda been ranked among one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

World Bank estimates show that Uganda loses an estimate of $300 million (Ugx 500 billion) annually to corruption. Likewise, the 2011Transparency International Perception Index gives Uganda a decimal score of 2.4 on scale of 10, placing it as the 143rd out of the world’s 183 countries.

FACT SHEET ON ANTI CORRUPTION COURT

Formation

• Established in late 2008 in after a consultation between the Principal Judge and the Chief Justice.

• The Anti Corruption Court is a division of High Court created try high profile corruption and related offenses.

• The establishment of the court was as a result of public demand for a specialized court. It was considered to be the last institutional mechanism following the establishment of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and Police anti -corruption specialized units.

• In 2009, a practice directive was issued by the Chief Justice by way of Legal Notice No.9 to formally operationalize the Anti-Corruption Court Division.

• The objective of this court is to expeditiously and efficiently adjudicate corruption related cases

Statistics

• Between 2009 and 2011, the AC court had 232 convictions and 127 pending.

• Out of the cases AC court handled in 2010/2011, over 68% were in the category of embezzlement and procurement alone.

ANTI CORRUPTION WEEK 2011

Information Guide

Introduction

Anti- Corruption Day is commemorated world over on the 9^th December every year, to purposely raise awareness on contemporary pertinent issues of corruption by actively mobilizing citizens to participate in the fight against corruption and awakening the government to fulfill its mandate to champion the cause.

Anti Corruption Week (ACW)

Since its formation in 1999, ACCU has consolidated advocacy for policy formulation, research, capacity building, mobilization and sensitization as her core activities geared at enhancing the capacity of Ugandans to engage the anti- corruption agenda.

The climax of the coalition’s activities comes during the ACW which takes place annually during the first week of December all over the country.

Theme for ACW 2011

The theme for ACW 2011 is “Reviewing the effectiveness of the anti-corruption court since inception.”

The message echoed is that there is need to take stock of what has been done for the last two years noting that the institutions and laws alone have not significantly reduced corruption cases there by improving service delivery. Ugandans want to see the institutions work more and the laws applied appropriately.