Museveni orders Leadership Tribunal to probe leaders’ past crimes, clean up public service

President Museveni speaks at the swearing-in ceremony of Leadership Code Tribubal members. Courtesy Photo

President Yoweri Museveni has inaugurated the Leadership Code Tribunal, ordering its members to rid public service of corruption and investigate leaders’ past crimes.

Museveni presided over the swearing in of the Leadership Code Tribunal members at State House, Entebbe, on July 24.

Dr Roselyn Karugonjo will head the tribunal while Asuman Kiyingi will be her deputy. Other members are Jane Arume, Didas Bakunzi and Joyce Nalunga.

Leadership Code Tribunal chairperson Dr Roselyn Karugonjo swears in. Courtesy Photo

The Ethics and Integrity Ministry has for years called on government to institute the tribunal, set up by the Leadership Code Act.

In 2010, Inspector General of Government (IGG) Raphael Baku called for the setting up of the tribunal after the Supreme Court ruled that the Inspectorate of Government (IG) had no powers to order for then Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi’s removal.

In 2005, the IGG ordered Lukyamuzi’s removal from office over non-declaration of wealth, contrary to the provisions of the Leadership Code.

But court ruled that the IG’s work should have stopped at investigating the matter. The inspectorate was supposed to forward its findings to a tribunal for a final decision on Lukyamuzi’s case.

According to the Act, the tribunal will handle matters of breach of the code that are referred to it by the Inspectorate of Government and recommend appropriate action.

At the inauguration, Museveni told Karugonjo and her team that the tribunal is the right place “where you deal with leaders for their past mistakes” and “help our people by perfecting the corruption fight.”

Leadership Code Tribunal Deputy Chairperson Asuman Kiyingi swears in. Courtesy Photo

“We already have the police and IGG but we still have a lot of corruption in the public service; that is why I initiated the Anti-Corruption Unit in State House and now this tribunal,” he said.

He dismissed the argument that the institution of the tribunal meant duplication of anti-corruption units since there was already the IG and Anti-Corruption Unit in State House, saying these offices would supplement each other.

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Samuel Kamugisha

Samuel Kamugisha is a Ugandan journalist, editor, language instructor, poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. A Makerere University graduate of Journalism and Communication with a decade-long experience in news reporting, writing and editing, Kamugisha is Editor at The Pearl Times. Most of his previous work was published by The Observer. When he is not doing journalism work -- which is rare -- Kamugisha will be reading or writing a short story or a poem, or caught up in the writer's block.