The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Olive Kamya maintains that she will not retract nor apologize over the recent comments she made that government officials like herself are cushioned from direct impacts of corruption.
In a recent cautionary message that went viral on social media, Kamya called on ordinary Ugandans to be at the forefront of fighting corruption, saying when money is lost to corruption and services and systems such as medical care become dysfunctional, the corrupt or the politically connected get airlifted abroad for treatment – moreover at the taxpayers’ expense.
Equally, she said, government officials like her who travel in big four-wheeled vehicles don’t feel the potholes on poorly maintained roads like those who ride in smaller cars, who, even have to constantly keep repairing their vehicles at their own expense while government officials never even get to know the cost of fuel as they are entitled to fuel vouchers or cards.
Following her blunt statements, a section of Ugandans accused her of being arrogant and reminded her that corruption affects everybody saying being airlifted abroad is no guarantee of better healthcare as many have been brought back dead due to lack of first aid or primary healthcare in public hospitals.
They also said due to corruption in the education sector, unqualified medical personnel may secure jobs in private healthcare facilities where rich government officials throng, and here, they might get misdiagnosed anyway. Also, because of poor pay in government facilities, some public health officers are forced to moonlight and work in several other private hospitals which takes a toll on their mental capabilities and stability.
However, Kamya remains adamant and says she’s not deterred by those that have chosen to “spin” her message. While addressing an integrity conference for universities, tertiary institutions, and secondary schools at Nkumba University, she said what she said earlier is a fact and hence will not apologize or resign.
She again emphasized that the war on graft must be championed by the ordinary people because they are the most afflicted by the effects of corruption. She also said the citizens are armed with information about big beneficiaries of graft since they live in the communities with the “big fish” (top graft beneficiaries).
“Senior public servants, they are not victims to the same extent like those who are not. They are cushioned in a way because using public resources, they live a luxurious life. That is what I was saying and people did not want me to say it and people even called for my resignation. Even if I resign today, I will hand over that VX [vehicle] to the next IG and the next IG will enjoy all the benefits that I’m enjoying. And it is not only for government, there are members of the opposition whom you know fell sick, they didn’t go to Mulago, they went to America. You know them, even the most critical of government when they fell sick, they were airlifted to Nairobi.
