Protests wont end corruption- Col Nakalema tells youths

The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit(SHIPU) Col Edith Nakalema has urged youths to desist from pouring on streets in protest against corruption, noting that this is rather a futile attempt.

“It makes no sense pouring ourselves on the streets that you are coming to demonstrate against corruption. Demonstrating does not add much value to what you want to do and what you want to achieve. Yes, indeed, it is a constitutional right for people to demonstrate, but it has to be an organized demonstration,” Col Nakalema said.

She was on Friday speaking during a public dialogue organized by the Makerere guild leadership about corruption.

Col Nakalema told the youths that whereas its is within their right to demonstrate, it is not right to say government has not taken the bull by the horns in the fight against corruption.

“ We want to say we are sorry, but none of us intends  to see things going wrong. None of us wants to see corruption eating us and eating our country. That’s why we are never seated. We are always working. We are always mobilizing. We are fighting corruption, and now we are here to learn from you, but also to empower you,” she said.

“President Museveni has in all his speeches emphasized the fight against corruption. If you have noted, he is always addressing youths who are at his heart and in all government programs to empower them to fight corruption. We are depending on you, the young people, the empowered with your with your competencies, knowledge,  skill, zeal and all that you are empowered with. We want you to come together and clean up this beautiful motherland of ours, Uganda. We want you to join the fight against corruption.”

She however urged youths to use their capabilities to not only fight corruption but also engage in socio-economic transformation of the country.

Col Nakalema underscored the role of dialogue in solving issues.

The State House Anti Corruption Unit head, Brig Henry Isoke warned youths against being recruited by people with selfish interests into going to streets to protest.

“Don’t accept to be used as pawns. There are issues you can resolve without violence. Be aware that some demonstrations are manipulated by individuals with their own agendas,” he said.

“As university students, it is crucial to engage in analytical thinking and avoid being unduly influenced by social media. Let’s reserve social media discussions for that platform and rely on substantial evidence and thorough research for academic discourse. We must uphold the intellectual standards that Makerere is renowned for.”

During the dialogue, Makerere University students gave their views on the fight against corruption.

“As youths, we feel the head of state is not with us in this struggle. If th people in big offices do corruption and not punished, corruption continues.  He once told the IGG to go slow on corrupt or else they would invest money abroad. It makes us feel he is not with us in this struggle. That simply means he is sweetening corruption and this one of the reasons that we are tempted to go to the streets to protest,” said Moses Nuwamanya, a second year student at Makerere University.