Ombudsman urges youth to intensify fight on corruption

The Ombudsman Tito Rutaremara has called upon the youth to intensify the fight against the corruption cancer which has eaten deep into the African societies, urging them to help his office in fighting it.

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ombudsman Tito Rutaremara

The Ombudsman Tito Rutaremara has called upon the youth to intensify the fight against the corruption cancer which has eaten deep into the African societies, urging them to help his office in fighting it.

The Ombudsman sounded the call yesterday during a session organised by the Youth Campaign for Sustainable Development (YCSD) an Anti corruption club at School of Finance and Banking (SFB).

The session was aimed at sensitizing the students about the current situation of corruption in the country.

"The Office of the Ombudsman has got a challenge of lack of man power most especially in the field of sensitization, and if youths like you come up with such clubs, it will help greatly,” he said.

He also challenged the youth to start exercising integrity and honesty at a younger age while still in school to ensure that they become transparent leaders when they get into positions of leadership.

"If you cheat during exams, it is another form of corruption. That means that nothing will stop you from stealing public funds if you become a leader, so you should avoid such vices if you are to become accountable leaders,” he counseled.

Rutaremara commended the students of SFB for coming up with such a club and promised to work hand in hand with the club in their endeavours to fight corruption and support them where need arises.

Speaking to The New Times, Benjamin Karenzi the chairperson of YCSD said that their club’s main objective is to sensitise the youth and other people about the evils of corruption and to help combat it in the country.

"Corruption is a disease that cripples development, so our club has come in to help other stake holders in this sector of fighting it for our country to realize sustainable development,” said Karenzi.

Speaking at the gathering, the acting Rector of SFB Prof. Erasmus Kaijage encouraged the club to spread the word on anti-corruption to other institutions of higher learning in the country and in the region.

He blamed corruption partly on the infringement of human rights where some people are denied the services they are entitled to as citizens.

Ends