Ombudsman pushes for grassroots audits

KIGALI - The Ombudsman has said that his office will not cease to push for audits at the local administrative levels, which he said was key to fighting corruption at the grassroots. Tito Rutaremera said, Friday, in an interview that more emphasis will be put in sensitizing people about their right to get services from the local officials in the ongoing anti-corruption campaign. According to the Ombudsman’s office, the move comes after it was discovered that the fight against corruption in top leadership organs has registered great progress, but that the vice was still rampant at the lower administrative levels. “We are going to put much more effort in monitoring all services offered at the local levels and finding where the problems lie,” said Rutaremara.“…we always tend to neglect the services offered there (at the local level); people need to be aware of their rights to access services from their local leaders.” In Rwanda, the campaign will be marked under the theme: “Injustice and corruption destroys governance, we should stand up, resist it, fight it and be the whistle blowers.” It will officially be launched in Gisagara District on December 6. According to a report, released in July, by Transparency International, Rwanda is the least corrupt country in East Africa. The East African Bribery Index (EABI) out Rwanda’s corruption prevalence at 6.6%; Tanzania came second with 28.6%, followed by Kenya with 31.9%, Uganda with 33.0%, while Burundi emerged the most corrupt in the region with 36.7%. Ends