Humanist

“Everywhere, there is corruption. Something for something. Nothing for nothing. Corruption, corruption. Corruption in the society.” Lyrics of “Corruption” by Thomas Mapfumo.

CLICK HERE to access full lyrics of “Corruption” on Musixmatch

The situation on corruption, world over, is getting worse. To the extent that “decline in leadership undermining global fight against corruption” is the theme for the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025.

First, the disclaimer. “CPI measures PERCEPTIONS of corruption, NOT DIRECT INSTANCES of corruption itself. Nevertheless, CPI is believed indicative of the state of corruption

Now, last year, 2024, Uganda’s CPI was 26 points and was ranked 140 out of 180 countries. Interestingly, the CPI for Uganda staid the same for three years 2022 to 2024. In 2025, predictably, Uganda’s CPI went down to 25 points and it became ranked 148 out of 182 countries; sharing a position with Madagascar.

Why predictably so, case in point, audit reports such as:

“The Auditor General, Edward Akol, has accused the Pornography Control Committee (PCC) at the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity for failing to produce an annual report detailing the activities it conducted in 2025. His concerns are contained in the December 2025 annual audit report presented to Parliament. “I noted that the PCC did not produce an annual report to the minister on the performance of their functions within six months after the end of the financial year. The Directorate of Ethics and Integrity failed to budget for the activities of the Committee,” noted Akol.” Source Parliament Watch on X

Set aside our morality on if there should even be such a thing as a pornography control committee in the first place.

That the very institutions, such as the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, mandated to fight corruption are underfunded, supports the assertion: “decline in leadership undermining global fight against corruption.”

But even then, the absence of a report does not clarify whether the pornography control committee did not cost the state funds. Certainly, the Auditor General’s report can be construed to mean there are expenditures unaccounted for. As in, what was the value for money of the committee?

Be that as it may, historically, sadly, since 1995, when CPI ranking began, the highest score for Uganda is 30 points in 2016. 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, to 25 points.

What happened then, in 2012 to improve Uganda’s CPI score?

What is happening now that Uganda is regressing?

It is feasible misdirected priorities is among the major factor. For context, for example:

“The cost of maintaining Uganda’s Parliament is significantly high compared to health sector budget allocations. A single member of parliament can cost over UGX 1.6 billion for a five-year term, while the 2024–25 national budget allocated UGX 1.4 trillion to the Ministry of Health, only covering 4.1% of the total budget.” Source ISER Uganda Report.

Parliament of Uganda current, 11th Parliament, is composed of 555 members. Each provided a budgetary allocation of 320 million shillings a year. While the budgetary allocation for public healthcare provision for 45.9 million Ugandans is only about thirty thousand shillings per person annually.