Uganda's president leads anti-corruption walk

By Mariam Abele

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday led a walk against corruption, calling people committing the crime parasites.

Addressing the gathering joining him for the rally, Museveni said: "Corrupt people are parasites. They are parasites because they get wealth which they did not earn."

The president said it is the responsibility of political leaders to end the crime by arranging the economy in such a way that people could meet their needs.

"Because if people don’t have jobs, they don’t have income, the temptation is high," he said.

Museveni stressed that it is time to support the expansion of four sectors, including commercial agriculture and industry services.

“That’s how we can create jobs and wealth and income for people,” he said.

Uganda is ranked the 149th least-corrupt country in the world, according to the 2018 Transparency International report.

Jacob Oulanya, the deputy parliament speaker, said: "Unless we take this from our own frontlines and extend the frontier to cover other areas, it’s a waste of time, it’s a public show for nothing."

On the streets of Kampala, thousands were made to walk long distances after roads were closed for the walk.

Emmanuel Luyinda, a transporter driver, said the walk by Museveni was right but, "He has noticed that there’s a problem, but whoever is advising him [should know that] walking is not the solution."

David Toyi, an accountant, questioned the intention of the walk.

“Its timing is suspicious, it has come when elections are near and so many people have benefited from corruption,” he said.