Civil Society and Corruption in East Africa

 An examination will be given to the legal and
 institutional framework put in place to fight against
 corruption. It will argue that the frame work put in
 place would have played a greater role in the fight
AUTHOR: ANGUALIA DANIEL CIVIL SOCIETY ANDagainst corruption had it not been for the frustration
CORRUPTION IN EAST AFRICAof their efforts by those who hold power in the
 respective states.
  
ABSTRACTThe paper gives an over view of the operation of
 civil society in the region; Civil society includes; The
Corruption is a big problem in Africa. Internationalmass media, Non Governmental Organizations, political
reports by World Bank and National reports byparties and the citizenry as a whole.
member states have revealed that colossal sum of 
money is lost to corruption. This has impeded theThe paper will analyze the role played by the civil
achievement of the Millennium development goals andsociety organizations in the fight against corruption in
other national development objectives of theEast Africa. It will illustrate that civil society has
respective states.played a great role in the fight against corruption; it
 will further show that despite the efforts of civil
Civil society organizations of national, regional andsociety, corruption is still prevalent.
international character as well as organizations such as 
International Monetary Fund, African Union, AfricaAn analysis is made into the constraints to the
Development Bank and World Bank have raisedactivism of civil society in the fight against corruption.
concern over increased corruption in the region.Due consideration is to be given to the political, social,
This is despite the legal and institutional frameworkseconomic and legal constraints. The paper will ague
put in place by the African states as a move againstthat the East African states through their repressive
corruption in Africa.laws and the interest of its leaders to protect and
The reasons for the increased corruption in Africapursue their selfish political interest have largely
can be linked to political, social, economic and legalfrustrated the efforts of civil society in the fight
factors.against corruption.
  
This paper gives a case study of East Africa. It willThe paper is to conclude by proposing/ suggesting/
analyze the state of corruption in East Africa and therecommending new ways through which the
role played by civil society in the fight againstGovernments can work along side the civil society
corruption. East Africa comprises of Uganda Kenyawith the view of effectively fighting corruption in the
and Tanzania.region and Africa as a whole.
  
The paper reveals that 70% of corruption case 
reported in the region is found in the public sector. ItAbridged note.
will argue that, this is because the public sector is the 
biggest employer with the majority of under paidAngualia Daniel from Uganda, A lawyer- holds a
employees who have to supplement their income bybachelors degree in law of Makerere University and a
engaging in corruption. It will also show thatDiploma in legal practice, has attended and
multinational corporations in the private sector haveparticipated in various workshops organized by civil
also contributed to corruption due to cutthroatsociety organizations in East Africa geared towards
competition in the liberalized economy.fighting corruption in the region. He is also a member
 of various Anti-Corruption Organizations in the region.