Dishonest officials hide behind the veil of secrecy

The New Vision, Uganda, Sept 4, 2004

If the Access to information Bill now before Parliament is enacted, Uganda will join 11 Commonwealth countries with right to information laws. This bestows renewed hope for Ugandans frustrated by arrogant, and inefficient public servants hiding behind the veil of privacy and secrecy to deny Ugandans the right to know.

Despite a constitutional guarantee of citizens' right to information, no law implementing this provision has been enacted. It has taken the determination of Bugwere MP Abdu Katuntu to draft this Law as a private member's bill. It is deplorable that most MPs devote a lot of their time to political debates and intrigue when matters of high priority lie before them. Time spent on the Movement caucus, PAFO, and now Ekisanja would be better used initiating and enacting crucial legislations that entrench democracy in Uganda.

Government's belated efforts in tabling its own Bill, perhaps prompted by Katuntu's progress, needs to be appreciated. State minister for information has demonstrated dedication in bringing this law into force, although his commitment is yet to pass the test of ensuring that this Bill does not share the fate of the domestic relations bill by remaining on the shelves.
The Access to Information Law will help rout the entrenched culture of secrecy, which thrives to our collective detriment. When the information we need remains "classified" or will "jeopardise national security", then the chances that fraud, corruption and inefficiency will thrive and be condoned in public offices, are higher.

The procurement of substandard military hardware, the infamous ghost soldier scandal, the ghost voter fiasco, corruption in the Police and URA only tell part of the story. Ugandans surely deserve more than being treated to showpieces masquerading as "judicial commissions of inquiry" long after the damage has been done. This law will enhance transparency and political accountability.

The 2003 Transparency International's Annual Corruption Perception index draws an emphatic correlation between access to information and corruption. Of the 10 best scoring countries, nine had effective legislation allowing public access to Government files. To the contrary none of the least ten had a functioning access to information regime.

The writer is a Researcher with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, East African Police Reforms.