The 13th International Anti-Corruption Conference was held in Athens, Greek from 30th October to 2nd November, 2008. The global Conference was supported by leading transnational companies and international organizations, including UNDP as one of the principal partners.  It was conducted around themes that are relevant to UNDP’s key thematic focus of the Country Programme with special emphasis on Democratic Governance.

 

The Conference covered a wide range of issues such as peace and human security, corruption in the natural resources, climate change and corruption, and sustainable Globalization.

 

The conference was attended by participants from Uganda, representing the Parliament of Uganda, civil society and key anti-corruption institutions such as Inspector of Government, President’s Office Department of Ethics and Integrity (DEI) and Public Procurement and Disposal Public Assets Authority (PPDA). All of them participated eagerly and made full use of the opportunity that Conference provided.

 

Mr. Emmanuel Hatangimana, who leads UNDP Uganda’s Finance Unit, represented the Country Office at the Conference. As UNDP’s in-house expert on financial transactions and accountability, Emmanuel reflects on the experience he gained from this Conference.

 

‘The trip was really an eye opener. I was amazed to see how much work is needed to be done which hitherto I could not visualize. It was a big finding that corruption does not only lead to loss of resources; it also includes denial of the entire society to access value in service delivery. Even those who steal public resources in a way do not enjoy their full benefits that would have otherwise accrued to them. For example, if an individual amasses wealthy through corrupt means and is very rich living in a big precious house, but surrounded by a poor neighborhood, polluted and dangerous environment, no infrastructure, no medical care and other essential social services, then, such a person is not rich at all.’

 

‘There is a lot to be done out there, by individuals, by society, and also by UNDP.  What the Democratic Governance Programme is doing is real, very relevant, and I think it needs to be up-scaled, because there is a lot to be done out there.  UNDP could for example work to develop the capacity of responsible institutions and civil society; and if resources permit, even work with the younger generation, to sensitize them about the dangers of corruption in society and strengthen their ethics.  Maybe the younger generation could be a driver to change the country’s future.’