A House of Shadows: Tracing Corruption in Uganda’s Parliament Since 1995"
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Since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, the Parliament of Uganda was envisioned as the epicenter of democratic governance—a watchdog of public interest, a crucible of accountability. Yet, in the decades that followed, a darker reality has haunted the chambers of the national legislature: a persistent, deep-rooted culture of corruption. From inflated allowances and ghost oversight trips to bribery in committee work and misappropriation of public funds, the corruption trail in Parliament mirrors the very vices the institution was meant to fight. The Genesis: 1995 and Beyond Following the adoption of the 1995 Constitution, Uganda’s Parliament underwent an expansion in size and influence. With these changes came increased financial allocations, opening the door to systemic abuse. Reports of Members of Parliament (MPs) soliciting kickbacks from Ministries and parastatals in exchange for favorable budget approvals began to emerge. I n 2013, the Public Accounts...