President Yoweri Museveni led a march in efforts to stamp out corruption in public offices on Thursday.
The Ugandan leader was accompanied by politicians, members of civil society organisations and religious leaders.
Several people were forced to walk to work as they were caught unawares by the traffic restrictions.
President Museveni pointed out that obesity among some public servants was a sign of corruption.
According to the president, he has never stolen from public coffers.
While medics will tell you being obese is a sign of an underlying chronic condition, President Yoweri Museveni thinks being overweight is linked to one’s level of corruption.
Mr. Museveni, who claimed he had never stolen any public funds, said obesity among some public servants was a sign of graft.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, December 4, while addressing Ugandans in Kampala after participating in a march against corruption, Daily Monitor reported. “I have decided to cut weight. I was 106kgs, now I am now 76kgs. I think obesity is also a sign of corruption,” Museveni said. The president further cautioned government agencies against basing recruitment of staff on academic papers when recruiting them instead of integrity.
“Do not recruit people on basis of papers but look for integrity; that is common in URA, IGG and State House anti-corruption unit,” he said. “Maybe in judiciary, army and civil service. Those ones we need the papers,” he added. According to him, he is rich yet he has never stolen public funds like most wealthy public servants whom he termed as parasites.
He further noted corruption was a spiritual problem while claiming he had information implicating many government officials who were corrupt but was gathering more evidence. “I monitor your groups… people tell me. Only that I do not have enough evidence to arrest you, but I know many of you are corrupt,” said Museveni.
He highlighted the need to stamp out corruption in public offices in order to effectively deliver service to the public.
Source: tuko.co.ke
