Turning Guilt into Action: Reclaiming Uganda from corruption

We need a relentless anti-corruption campaign, akin to the HIV awareness efforts of 30 years ago ago

COMMENT | Gertrude Kamya Othieno | The Ladder of Accountability is a powerful tool, urging us to evaluate responsibility at every level of society. It starts with the individual and moves upward to institutions and external mechanisms. Yet in Uganda, accountability has been reduced to an empty phrase, while corruption runs rampant. From the top echelons of government to the grassroots level, we’ve let the poison seep into our lives. Bribes, nepotism, and backdoor deals have become our everyday reality. The time has come to admit something uncomfortable: we are all corrupt. Whether at home or in the diaspora, we are complicit. And it’s this guilt that should gnaw at us. It’s the key to waking us up from our moral stupor.

Uganda’s corruption problem is not just institutional; it’s deeply personal. It’s time to confront a bitter truth: every single Ugandan must be viewed as corrupt. Every bribe we pay, every favour we offer in exchange for a shortcut, is a small betrayal of our nation’s future. Guilt, not fear, is the emotion that should grip us. Why? Because corruption is not something that happens to us; it’s something we choose to participate in. And until we acknowledge this, we’ll remain stuck in this cycle.

We need a relentless campaign, akin to the HIV awareness efforts of 30 years ago, but this time driven by guilt. Uganda’s fight against HIV succeeded because it forced every citizen to confront the uncomfortable reality that everyone could be infected. The message was simple, yet profound: assume everyone has the virus and protect yourself. It worked because it made us all responsible for our actions. Uganda became a global model in the fight against HIV, not by sugar-coating the truth, but by making every individual feel personally accountable. And it’s that same collective responsibility we need to ignite today in the battle against corruption.

There is a critique, especially in the West, against using negative emotions like guilt in public campaigns. Neo-liberal thinking suggests that empowerment is more effective than guilt or shame. But let’s not forget: guilt can be a powerful motivator, particularly in societies like Uganda’s, where communal responsibility and moral integrity still matter. Much like how Christianity thrived in African societies through its concept of reward and punishment, the same moral framework can guide us in the fight against corruption. Guilt makes you reflect; it gnaws at you, and forces you to ask: “Am I the problem?”

So let’s get real about self-accountability. Have you slipped a little something to the traffic warden to avoid a fine? Yes, you’re part of the problem. Feel guilty about it. Peer accountability is no less significant. Have you ever used connections to get your child into a better school, bypassing the rules? If so, own up to it. You, too, are guilty.

Moving up to managerial accountability, the issue becomes more dangerous. Have you ever hired a relative for a position they weren’t qualified for simply because they’re family? If so, you’ve not just undermined your workplace, but also our broader social fabric. Feel the weight of that guilt. At the level of institutional accountability, we need to ask: Are you upholding professional ethics, or are you taking bribes and bending the rules? Finally, at the top of the ladder lies external accountability, Are you complying with regulations, or are you paying off officials to make things easier? Each of us needs to feel responsible for the rot we see around us.

Uganda has demonstrated before that collective action, driven by personal responsibility, can change the course of a nation. The fight against corruption requires us to confront our guilt and act on it. Uganda’s HIV campaign succeeded because it demanded personal accountability. The same approach can work against corruption if we take responsibility for our part in this national crisis. After all, guilt, when embraced, can be a force for good. It can drive change.

Uganda, it’s time to act—and this time, let guilt lead the way.

***

Gertrude Kamya Othieno | Political Sociologist in Social Development (Alumna – London School of Economics/Political Science) | Email – gkothieno@gmail.com

RELATED STORY

Honourable or Ow’ekitiibwa? The evolving meaning of titles in Uganda’s political landscape