Diary of undecided voter on presidential debate

Ija, I know it has been a while. Life happened and I have been extremely busy at work. Can you imagine, I did not even tune in to watch the presidential debate on Sunday! And I have not yet even had the time to watch the full recording of it.

I have seen clips of it on social media though. The one that particularly caught my attention is the one in which Candidate Kyagulanyi was asked what he would do about corruption, in light of Uganda’s poor ranking on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). I thought I should jump into the conversation right away.

First wait a minute Ajakait. I have not seen and spoken to you in a long while, first of all, how are you?

I am fine Ija, but really tired, in a good way though. Work is very taxing and rewarding at the same time.

That is good to know Ajakait. You can go on to tell me more about why Uganda’s CPI ranking part of the debate provokes you.

I tell you Ija, me I am surprised that the debate organizers planned for and allowed such a question to be asked. Of all questions? Asking a question that is based on fiction really, at best culturally imperialistic propaganda.

What do you mean Ajakait?

Ija, “it is important to note that CPI measures PERCEPTIONS of corruption, NOT DIRECT INSTANCES of corruption itself,” this according to Our World in Data.

So what Ajakait?

Ija, don’t you see the problem already?

No I don’t Ajakait, please explain it to me …

Ija, before I explain, let me first clarify whose perception the CPI uses to measure corruption. Apparently, it is of “experts and business executives.” Really? Ebe, it is their perception of “abuse of entrusted power for private gain,” as CPI generally defines corruption, that determines a country’s scores.

Basically, Ija, Transparency International, asks those select “experts and business executives” their perception of “abuse of entrusted power for private gain” in a particular country, and on that basis it infers levels of corruption in a country.

Make your point Ajakait. Are you trying to say that the views included in ranking countries on the CPI are not to be trusted?

Certainly so Ija. As in they are not to be treated as though they are facts when they are simply personal opinions of select “experts and business executives.” Ija, sincerely, for example, it is curious that African countries don’t feature well on the CPI.

The most recent CPI, for 2024, reported released in February 2025, ranks the following countries in the top 10 positions with scores ranging from 90 to 77 points: Denmark, Finland, Singapore, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Australia, Iceland and Ireland.

Ija, considering what we hear about China, that if a public official is caught being corrupt, he or she is investigated and when confirmed guilty the punishments are severe, including even the death penalty. How does the CPI perceive China more corrupt than other countries? Ebe China scored only 43.

Ajakait, you are all over the place, please come back to Uganda and most importantly how this links to the presidential debate.

Okay Ija, for me as me, I find CPI scores for Uganda suspect. Since 1995, when CPI ranking began, the highest score for Uganda is 30 points in 2016. Since then, the scores for Uganda are within the rage of 26 to 29 points.

Interestingly, Ija, Uganda seems to severally score the same points year in, year out. For example, for the last three years 2022 to 2024 Uganda’s score has remained 26 points; and with those points, Uganda is currently ranked at position 140 out or 180 countries.

Ija, it is also intriguing that for over a decade from 1995 to 2011, Uganda’s CPI score was consistently below 3 points, yes, 3 points. Then in 2012, the score jumped to double digits, 25 points.

Ajakait, please now connect this to the presidential debate and in particular Candidate Kyagulanyi’s submissions.

Ija, ijoba, the way he struggled to answer the question. It is mind boggling that he does not seem to have prepped for the debate. His team did not seem to have equipped their man with pointers on the ‘statesman dodge’ of questions as you buy time.

He went straight into it, reading from a pre-prepared script, which did not quite fit into the question asked. Spewing and regurgitating opinions and factoids that reinforce the flawed perception of corruption in Uganda.

Referencing exogenous sanctions against Speaker Among, which have been widely criticized for having unclear basis and which she has branded as retaliation against her for championing the Anti-Homosexuality Act. A brand that is a ‘vote catcher’, sadly.

Worse more, the CPI scores for Uganda actually show that there has been improvement in the reduction of perceived levels of public sector corruption from the highest level 1.9 points (0 = highly corrupt) to the current 26 points (100 = very clean).

Therefore, fitting well within the ruling party’s campaign slogan of “protecting the gains.” Asking and answering the question on Uganda’s CPI scores, took nothing away from the incumbent and instead significantly took away from Candidate Kyangulanyi.

In any case, questions on a presidential debate should be fact-based. Precious time was wasted discussing seeming fictitious statistics that are based on the perceptions of an elite group.

I see your point Ajakait. I have to go now. I am glad you called and we talked.

Thank you Ija and happy new month to you. We will talk again soon.

CPI Scores for Uganda since 1995 to date (source Wikipedia):