REMARKS BY JUSTICE IRENE MULYAGONJA KAKOOZA,
PRESIDENT OF THE EAST AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF ANTICORRUPTION AUTHORITIES (EAAACA) AT THE OPENING OF THE
7TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 4TH NOVEMBER 2013, AT DES
MILLE COLLINE HOTEL, KIGALI, RWANDA.
Hon. Minister,
Former Heads of Anti-Corruption Authorities,
Mrs Cyanzayire
Ombudsman,
Aloysie,
the
Chief
Ombudsman,
Office
of
Heads of National Anti-Corruption Authorities in East Africa,
Heads and Representatives of Observer`s
Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities,
of
East
African
Distinguished Delegates,
Invited Guests,
Members of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Hon. Minister,
We are very pleased that you were able to come and grace the opening
of EAAACA’s 7th Annual General Meeting.
We are joined by an unprecedented number of participants from
different
organizations
and
different
jurisdictions,
a
glowing
affirmation that we need cooperation to fight the corruption cancer.
Our faithful observers from South Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia,
invited guests from the Swedish Government, StAR Initiative, ARINSA,
CARIN and Interpol, among others are here with us.
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Hon Minister,
Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the Chief Ombudsman,
Office of Ombudsman and her entire team for organising and hosting
this meeting and for kindness and hospitality extended to members
and invited delegates.
Allow me furthermore to thank and appreciate all the Heads of
EAAACA members, EAAACA Observers, and our development partners
for the dedication, technical and financial support for the growth and
success of the Association.
Allow me to thank the former heads of Anti-Corruption Authorities
present who contributed a lot to the formation and development of
EAAACA, their invaluable contribution will always be appreciated.
Hon. Minister
Our theme this year is strengthening regional cooperation against
corruption.
The
East
African
Association
of
Anti-Corruption
Authorities provides a powerful tool to strengthen anti-corruption
programmes in the region. However, while the Association is a major
achievement in international cooperation between the members, its
potential
contribution
to
the
achievement
of
the
Millenium
Development Goals remains underutilized. The major challenge is the
limited resources to turn it into a more effective tool for fighting
corruption in the region. The Association relies on members’
contributions and currently has support from the Government of
Sweden which has greatly supported its operations this year; more
support has been given by StAR and UNODC who developed a cadre of
trainers in Asset Recovery in the region in addition to technical
support provided, among other things.
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Hon. Minister,
Corruption is recognized as the most pressing governance and
development challenge that Africa is confronted with today. The Global
Corruption Barometer, a periodic survey conducted by Transparency
International indicates that the countries in the East African
Community region are perceived as among the most corrupt in the
world.
Hon. Minister,
The Association’s strategy has focused on:i) Strengthening the capacities of the members to prevent and combat
corruption, aimed at improving the ability of the members to
enforce their legal mandate more effectively in order to provide
better service delivery and development outcome for our people;
ii) Improving communication to exchange information, knowledge and
strategies; aimed at knowledge sharing, peer-learning and the
identification and dissemination of good practices within and
beyond the region, with a view to advance the regional and incountry policy dialogue and create a platform for innovative,
suitable
and
sustainable
measures
to
prevent
and
combat
corruption at the regional level and within the individual countries
in the region; and
iii) Strengthening the EAAACA Secretariat for effective coordination,
monitoring and implementation of the Association’s activities.
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Hon. Minister,
Independently, the members face a number of challenges. However, on
26-27 November 2012, the heads of anti-corruption agencies (ACAs),
gathered in Jakarta to discuss ways to promote and strengthen the
independence and effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agencies. The
participants reviewed and discussed country experiences, challenges
faced, and key requirements to ensure the independence and
effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agencies and made recommendations
now known as the “Jakarta Statement on Principles for AntiCorruption Agencies”. Among the recommendations, was that the
Anti-Corruption Agencies should have clear mandates to tackle
corruption
through
prevention,
education,
awareness
raising,
investigation and prosecution, either through one agency or multiple
coordinated agencies; and that the Anti-Corruption Agencies should
not operate in isolation. They should foster good working relations
with state agencies, civil society, the private sector and other
stakeholders, including international cooperation; among others.
Hon. Minister,
I am glad to note that several agencies are present at this ceremony.
Effective anti-corruption efforts require the participation of all
members of society, including civil society groups, individual members
of the public and the media. Public engagement makes a difference in
the fight against corruption.
EAAACA recognized some of the key principles in the Jakarta
Statement, which were enshrined in our Constitution. Some of the
other principles however, are dependent on political will. Appropriate
legislation and institutional capacity to prevent and combat corruption
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is still lacking. The draft East African Protocol on Preventing and
Combating Corruption, though approved for signing by the EAC Heads
of State in November 2011, has not yet been passed. The objectives of
the protocol are to promote and strengthen the development of
mechanisms needed to prevent, and combat corruption; to promote,
facilitate and regulate cooperation among the partner states to ensure
the efficiency and effectiveness of measures for preventing and
combating corruption; and to develop and harmonise laws, policies
and strategies relating to prevention, and combating corruption. Once
signed and ratified, the Protocol will make a significant contribution to
Prevention and Combating of Corruption in the region.
Hon Minister,
Our appeal as an Association is that the Protocol should be passed as
soon as possible, to tackle this cancer of Corruption in the region. We
therefore urge you, to advocate that the EAC Protocol on Preventing
and Combating Corruption should be passed as soon as possible. The
Anti-Corruption Agencies cannot make any significant contribution to
the fight against corruption in the absence of strong political will.
There is an increasing body of experience which confirms this from
many jurisdictions. Corruption levels are significantly high in
countries where there is no strong political will.
Hon. Minister
With those remarks allow me to take this opportunity to invite you to
deliver your speech and officially open the 7th Annual General Meeting
of the East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.
I Thank You.
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