Is it possible to fight “corruption” without being selective?

The impunity with which some human beings want to embezzle what belongs to others is appalling and if the youth do not join hands to fight this evil nobody will.

In Uganda today, corruption, the greatest bottleneck to development has spread and penetrated all institutions including the home and the presumably holiest of places on earth - places of worship. The situation is terrible that if curtains were to be removed, the most respected individuals of society would earn more or the same treatment a witchdoctor does due to corruption.

Whereas injustices must be fought at all cost, they should not be fought in a way tantamount to bias. It is wise to appreciate the courage of people who have boldly criticized “unbecoming behavior” and I appeal for balanced efforts. The strong voice that Ugandans use to denounce homosexuality should be applied to denounce more pertinent issues like corruption.

We need to eliminate corruption but this cannot be achieved if it is not adequately addressed and those found guilty held accountable rather than being shielded by the voices “from above.”

Young leaders should take on the ultimate responsibility of promoting good virtues including integrity, honesty, transparency, and accountability and one need not become a politician to take on this responsibility. The struggle starts with you.

The writer is from FOWODE young leaders

Policy alternatives key in improving maternal and child health!

With Statistics revealing that only 32% of women who give birth in Uganda receive care from trained personnel while the majority gives birth at home or under the supervision of traditional birth attendants, different alternatives and policy proposals need to be explored in this country in order to strengthen the already existing efforts by different state and non state actors to improve the access to maternal health care services in Uganda. 

Drawing lessons from other developing countries and projects which are very applicable to Ugandan context, there is need to strengthen access to more wholesome reproductive health care facilities that target mothers and their partners. This will ensure collective action and concern on issues of maternal health. Additionally, research should be geared towards alternative knowledge on maternal health such as traditional birth attendants to improve their services and in human capital development of community health workers such as the nurses, clinical officers and midwives, besides providing them with an attractive salary package. This in the end will ensure more inclusive policy formulation and as well help in integrating indigenous knowledge into internationally recognized practices. However this calls for a legal framework to regulate the work done by these Traditional Birth Attendants. 

Means of monitoring and evaluating health programs should be devised in order to improve on access to maternal and reproductive health and as well checking on accountability and corruption by strengthening government’s capacity to monitor the effectiveness of programs.

With the above interventions many women and children will be saved.

Written by Kaviri Ali