By Timothy Nsubuga

12^th Dec 2011:

Finance Minister: Grand theft under her nose

A young official in the Ministry of Finance has dramatically confessed that he is fed up of stealing public funds to enrich himself while ordinary Ugandans who are supposed to be the true beneficiaries of government funds die daily in poorly facilitated government hospitals and roads.

The Finance ministry official was overheard by this reporter making this “very un-Ugandan” confession on Friday night at the Cayenne Club dominated by foreigners in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb.  Over a beer and some bites, he told his visibly colleague that “…finance is the best place if you want to get rich quick.  No one will ever bother to follow up any payments you requisition.” the finance official said.

He said over a period of six years, he “made” [that is stealing to you and me] so much money and built two estates in Kyambogo with four apartments in each, thus making a total of eight apartment blocks in just six years.  Rather astonishingly, this thieving chap also thought that he was the most modest thief in the Ministry of Finance.

“…The money I made is nothing compared to what some guys have made there.  Some guys don’t joke man.  I know one guy who now has a nice hotel in Bweyogerere, a private school, and twelve apartments those ends of Makindye.  But he is still eating like there is no tomorrow,” the finance officer said as they both burst into laughter.

However, he said the turning point for him came in October this year when he visited his cousin sister who had been admitted in Mulago hospital.  Here is my rough recollection of his short but moving story of redemption from corruption after death:

“…My life changed when I visited my cousin in Mulago.  She was admitted in October with severe stomach pain.  When I got there, the smell of the place hit me in the face like a tsunami.  She told me that she had been there for two days and was given nothing except pain killers.  When I called to find out how she was the following day after work, her husband picked her phone and said she had died.  Man I couldn’t believe it.  I asked myself a lot of questions after that.  Could she have been saved if money meant for hospitals was not stolen?  That was it for me, I vowed never to do any deals at work again.” he said.

For what seemed like a few minutes, a deafening silence descended upon the duo’s table, even as the place was fast filling up with noisy revellers.  Then, just before they were joined by two skimpily dressed girls, the thieving finance official promised his colleague that he now wants to get saved, marry a saved girl, and do some charitable work in his village.

Whether that makes up for his previous sins is seriously debatable.  What is not in doubt is that this chap’s story clearly warrants a comprehensive of financial management in the Ministry of Finance.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.