Performance contracts; fighting corruption and embezzlement should be a priority in East

Last month, I held a ten minutes interview with the governor of Eastern Province, Dr. Ephraim Kabayija. We discussed issues concerning two districts under his Province which has been characterized by the resignations and arrests of mayors. The goal was seeing what was causing all the resignations and arrests. Responding to some couple of questions that I asked him concerning these issues, Gov. Kabayija, said something that remained in my mind and which I wish to discuss today. The Governor told me that: ‘When a head is sick, the whole body directly or indirectly hurts’.’. He was referring to the issues, from cell level to district level, resulting from poor administrative styles by officials from Gatsibo and Bugesera districts. Police investigations in collaboration with the Office of Prosecutor General reveal that most of these leaders resign after exhibiting corruption and mismanagement of state funds. On Wednesday, Provincial Governors and their District Mayors presented to President of the Republic their six months performance contracts and targets for the next year. In my opinion, these leaders were should have presented tough measures on how they would completely end corruption and mismanagement of state funds. Cheers to Northern Province that mentioned fighting corruption in their performance contracts. Back to the Governors’ presentations; all the presentations focused on developing the economy but honestly speaking, the country’s economy can not grow when some of its drivers are hindered by corruption. These leaders, to me, should have also vowed to not to exhibit these corrupt tendencies. This initiative, I believe, could lead to the best performance contracts. Recently, Gatsibo district leaders were arrested for a tender scam which involved the supply of exotic cows and the construction of health centres. Nowmention that his province is corruption-free next year.To me, Governor Kabayija was supposed to give the President a detailed draft of measures being taken to end this virus in his province. dave204@yahoo.com