Uganda is one of the three countries that make up the East Africa Community (EAC). Other members of the community are Kenya and Tanzania. Geographically, Uganda lies west of Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria - also the third largest lake in the world after Lake Superior in Southern Ontario , Canada and the Caspian Sea in Southeast Europe. Uganda's climate is tropical, generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August). There exists a semiarid landmass in the northeast. The country covers 236,040 square kilometres.

The Lake acts as a major source of fish for both domestic and commercial purposes. Uganda is famously known for its agricultural production of bananas.This is a staple food in Uganda which is used to make matoke.This is a meal that is composed of fried bananas.

UGANDA'S APNAC CHAPTER

The Uganda Chapter was established in August 2000, making it one of first country partners in the network.

The Uganda Chapter is active in advocacy and networking efforts within and outside parliament. It works closely with the Parliamentary Centre Canada and Transparency International-Uganda and draws in the participation of Uganda Members of Parliament, Civil society and the media in sensitising the public on the AU anti-corruption convention, as a tool in demanding quality delivery of services, equitable distribution of resources, proper allocation of tenders, whistle-blowing, and other good governance, accountability and transparency concerns.

It main intervention measures have been sensitisation workshops, media campaigns, and research. Notable achievements include:

• Co-financed research on the legislative and policy measures in Uganda vis-à-vis practical challenges in implementing A.U Convention on Preventing and Combating corruption with Transparency International Uganda on 31 st October 2005.
• Co-organised workshop on AU convention on preventing and combating corruption and related offences with Transparency International Uganda on 30th August 2005.
• Carried out a series of meetings with members to develop a three- year strategic work plan, in July 2004 and was finalized in September 2004.
• Co-organised the Anti-corruption Week with Civil Society Organizations on 26 th Oct to 2 nd Nov 2003 .
• Participated in a workshop on IMF Anti-Money Laundering preventative strategies funded by GOPAC in Nairobi , Kenya on November 5 th 2003 .
• Held a workshop for MPs on Access to information 28 th Nov 2003 .
• Put a question for oral answer in Parliament on access to information.
• Mass awareness programmes on radio and TV.
• Participated in the APNAC conference in Nairobi- Kenya 2 nd -5 th Nov 2003 .
• Initiated strategic partnership with a number of actors such as the Inspectorate of Government, Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, NGOs, Transparency International-Uganda, Uganda Debt Network, Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda , NEPRO, and UJCC and participated alongside them in various campaigns against corruption.
• Participated in the National Conference on corruption and the release of the 2 nd National Integrity Survey results. First National Survey August 1998 and the Second National Survey March 2003.
• Held a series of sensitisation workshops with members of Parliament about the need for Access to Information law.
• Successfully implemented activities geared towards the domestication of the African Union Anti-corruption convention.

RECENT CHALLENGES

The Uganda Chapter has faced both institutional and operational challenges in implementing its activities. Key among them is the lack of media houses or personnel who specialise in corruption related issues and lack of political will.

In the last one year, the biggest challenge was the interruption of programmes occasioned by the 2006 Presidential and general elections and the attendant media preoccupation with the elections. This had an adverse effect particularly on the pilot project on the ratification and implementation of the African Union Convention Against Corruption.

This was the first time in 20 years that political parties were allowed by law to openly compete for parliamentary seats after years of political monopoly under the National Resistance Movement (NRM). As a result, members of parliament including APNAC members were focused on other priorities such as laying strategies for their return to parliament in the next term and boosting the votes for their new parties. Inevitably, some APNAC-U members who had been sensitised about the AU anti corruption convention did not make it back to parliament, with the effect that there is a challenge of introducing new members to APNAC and its programmes.

The APNAC-U also faces a problem of inadequate funds to implement the activities stated in its three-year strategic plan. As the country is in a new system of government (multi-party system), APNAC additionally faces a challenge of registering representatives from various political affiliations and creating a conducive environment for them to work together despite their often deeply-felt political differences.

FUTURE PLANS

APNAC-U's future plans include the implementation of measures related to the Africa Union (AU) Convention . These include

Other measures in the pipeline relate to the strengthening of the Chapter and encompass the a doption and implement the 3-year strategic work plan for APNAC-U. This will also entail making good governance strategic interventions and further equipping the APNAC-U offices.

See full details of The AU Convention on preventing and combating of corruption

Source of all data: CIA Worldfact Book and Wikipedia