Uganda Picks

Ten years after its enactment, the Leadership Code Act is being amended to impose suffer penalties on leaders who fail to declare their wealth, state minister for ethics and integrity Simon Lokodo has said.

He said that improvements to the law have been proposed in order to seal the loopholes.

After the principles are approved by Cabinet, he said the amendment Bill would be presented to Parliament for approval.

Explaining the rationale behind the amendments, he said; “We would like o see officers serving in public offices transparent and honest.”

Lokodo warned that public officers who fail to account for their wealth would lose their offices and properties because it would mean that they obtained it illicitly.

Leaders are also required to declare their wealth, assets and liabilities and those of their spouses, children and dependents below 18 years.

The leadership Code Act, 2002 provides for a minimum standard behavior and conduct for leaders, requires leaders to declare abilities and an enforcement mechanism.

The Act requires that the declaration of wealth is done once in every two years. Section four pf the Act state that a leader who fails to declare wealth commits an offence.

Leaders include the President, Vice – President, Speaker and deputy speaker of Parliament MPs, Judge of the courts of Judicature, magistrates, permanent secretaries and heads of government departments.

Others are head of department in the central and local governments, district Councillors, district speakers, district chairpersons, sub-county chiefs and ambassador