Parliament intensifies war on corruption

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga

By Henry Sekanjako

Parliament in partnership with Transparency International Uganda, an integrity body, has dedicated a special book shelf in Parliament’s library for publications to help MPs make informative debates on national issues concerning corruption and sustainable development.

The initiative spearheaded by Transparency International Uganda is aimed at strengthening and effectively promoting transparency, integrity and good governance through information sharing of publications at national level.

Speaking during the launch of the shelf on Wednseday, the director of library and research parliamentary library Innocent Rugambwa , said public institutions like Parliament need to be equipped with publications that can be used to widen people’s understanding on various issues that affect the country.

“This shelf is open to the public publications and all organizations are encouraged to furnish us with their publications and research work,” Rugambwa said.

Rugambwa noted that most of the libraries in Uganda are stocked with foreign publications instead of the local works and research which can be used to improve on social, economic, and political development of the country.

The coordinator of Transparency International Uganda, Francis Ekadu said the shelf will be stocked with reports on corruption among other social reports and publications which he says will help MPs fight corruption among other vices in the country.

“All these publications have been well researched and in them are findings and recommendations to be followed for a sustainable transparent and steady growth,” Ekadu said.

Some of the publications that were stocked in the shelf include Tackling Corruption, a reference handbook for anti-corruption activists in Uganda, Mapping Transparency and Integrity: risks in health service delivery in Uganda, Tackling expenditure and utilization of primary education funds in northern Uganda, among other publications.

The parliamentary library was established 11 years ago.