Corruption in Africa
Corruption may not easily be defined because several people understand it in different ways. Those who are in power look at their behavior as the best and as their duty and right to perform while their subordinates understand those actions as morally wrong.
Corruption may be defined as an act by a public or private officer that is contrary to society’s norms. It is a situation where one uses public office for material gain such as diverting workers’ salaries to personal capital. Actually the money that is supposed to do government work ends up serving personal welfare to a large extent.
It is regrettable that Uganda was at one time ranked by Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in the whole world. This portrays the loss of moral fibre among those people concerned with government funds. The following are the main features of corruption:
- Bribery- the act of giving out some money in order to receive a service from a public officer.
- Extortion- the act of obtaining money from somebody through false means.
- Payment for goods not supplied or services not rendered (“Air supply”)
- Undercharging of taxes and duties on exports and imports involving false classifications.
- Nepotism and patronage, sometimes called tribalism or sectarianism
- Neglect or negligence of duty is a form of corruption since one is paid for work not done.
- Misuse of office: Turning an office or a place of work for a wrong purpose such as a centre for personal business instead of doing government work.
- Over-invoicing and under-invoicing in order to earn a difference; purchases of goods and services at inflated prices.
- Illegal use of public assets for private gain.
- Payment of salaries and wages to non-existent workers who are nicknamed “Ghost workers”
- The removal of documents from case files or even disappearance of whole files.
- Blackmailing-the act of demanding money from somebody in return for not revealing secret or unpleasant information about them.
- Embezzlement of public funds
- The ten percent commissions
- Sexual harassment especially to female workers who are forced into sexual acts in order to retain their jobs. In some instances men are also harassed but they do not complain.
Corruption may be defined as an act by a public or private officer that is contrary to society’s norms. It is a situation where one uses public office for material gain such as diverting workers’ salaries to personal capital. Actually the money that is supposed to do government work ends up serving personal welfare to a large extent.
It is regrettable that Uganda was at one time ranked by Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in the whole world. This portrays the loss of moral fibre among those people concerned with government funds. The following are the main features of corruption:
- Bribery- the act of giving out some money in order to receive a service from a public officer.
- Extortion- the act of obtaining money from somebody through false means.
- Payment for goods not supplied or services not rendered (“Air supply”)
- Undercharging of taxes and duties on exports and imports involving false classifications.
- Nepotism and patronage, sometimes called tribalism or sectarianism
- Neglect or negligence of duty is a form of corruption since one is paid for work not done.
- Misuse of office: Turning an office or a place of work for a wrong purpose such as a centre for personal business instead of doing government work.
- Over-invoicing and under-invoicing in order to earn a difference; purchases of goods and services at inflated prices.
- Illegal use of public assets for private gain.
- Payment of salaries and wages to non-existent workers who are nicknamed “Ghost workers”
- The removal of documents from case files or even disappearance of whole files.
- Blackmailing-the act of demanding money from somebody in return for not revealing secret or unpleasant information about them.
- Embezzlement of public funds
- The ten percent commissions
- Sexual harassment especially to female workers who are forced into sexual acts in order to retain their jobs. In some instances men are also harassed but they do not complain.
National Movements and New States in Africa