Senior Presidential Advisor on Greater Masaka, Justine Nameere has petitioned the State House Anti Corruption Unit to block the upcoming thanksgiving ceremony organised by Lwengo Woman Member of Parliament, Cissy Namujju.
The legislator who is facing corruption charges of asking for a kickback from the Uganda Human Rights Commission in order to help enhance its budget was earlier this week granted bail.
To celebrate release on bail, Namujju has organised a thanksgiving ceremony on Sunday, August, 11.
However, in an August, 8 petition to the State House Anti Corruption Unit head, Nameere says it is high time the forthcoming thanksgiving ceremony is stopped or else it risks mocking the anti corruption fight.
She says that there is reliable information to show that Namujju and her close friends are planning a convoy from Lukaya, through Masaka City, then to Kyabakuza and then Lwengo.
“This type of behaviour is a very dangerous trend where people accused of capital crimes including high level corruption do make merry when granted bail . It is not only a bad precedent but is also a mockery of the noble fight against corruption,” Nameere says in the petition.
She adds,” Such incidents also create hopelessness in members of society and consequently some resort to violence means of demonstrating against corruption. This therefore makes such a function a security threat.”
The presidential advisor says such functions could tantamount to interfering with ongoing investigations in the MPs budget corruption case.
Bad precedent
Nameere says such function set a bad precedent in the fight against corruption by seeming to be celebrating the vice.
“Patriotically speaking, such functions are very dangerous as they set a bad example to the young generation that you can steal and still be celebrated,” she says.
“As a matter of fact, we believe the function will in fact discourage many patriotic Ugandans because it is a clear derision of the fight against corruption and principles of constitutionalism.”
The petition has been copied to the CID director and the Police Crime Intelligence Director.