The Principal Road Safety Officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ronald Amanyire, has issued a candid critique of systemic corruption in Uganda’s public service, highlighting how salary disparities and structural weaknesses perpetuate unethical practices.
In a social media statement, Amanyire acknowledged his own proximity to corrupt networks early in his career, revealing that he worked closely with one of the country’s most notorious masterminds of corruption until 2015.
“That experience gave me firsthand insight into how corruption operates,” he said.
Amanyire argued that corruption is universal, affecting both public and private sectors, but emphasized that government systems are uniquely vulnerable.
He described a hierarchy of corruption: from low-level bribes (“kitu kidogo”) to top-tier manipulation of planning and budgeting processes that siphon billions.
“This is systemic, not incidental,” he stated.
The officer also pointed to salary imbalances as a driver of corruption.
According to attached salary scales, an Assistant Commissioner with over 12 years of service earns UGX 1,728,007 per month, while a newly hired engineer makes UGX 4,000,000.
Amanyire argues that such distortions create pressures that push senior officers toward unethical survival strategies.
Challenging the notion that increasing salaries alone can curb corruption, Amanyire explained: “Once someone has tasted the fruits of corruption without consequences, even a net salary of UGX 100 million per month will not stop them from pocketing UGX 1 billion from a contract worth UGX 437 billion.”
He emphasized that the low risk and high reward of corrupt acts, combined with distorted salary structures, make corruption persist across all levels of government.