President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated the government’s total commitment to wipe out corruption in Uganda by using educated professionals who are skilled and ideologically clean. The President was  meeting Ambassadors from the European Union (EU) led by their Head Ambassador Vincent Vissher at State House, Entebbe. President Museveni stressed that the government is determined to end the vice of corruption like it stopped extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the dictatorial regimes of the past. “We fight corruption because we are against it. We don’t want people to steal the money generated by us or given to us by our friends”, he told the envoys.

On democracy, Mr. Museveni told the EU envoys that reforms have already been made to enable the multiparty democracy to successfully operate in the country save for the computerized registration of voters.

“Unlike in 1961 and 1962 where multiple boxes were used and the counting of votes was done after 5 days, the electoral law today provides that the counting of ballot papers must be done immediately and the results announced”, he said.

He said that the only problem that is being sorted out is the capturing of voters’ faces and their finger prints by using computerized systems to avoid multiple registration.

The President added that the airwaves and the print media were liberalized in the country and over 150 radio stations are operating as well as several newspapers.

On the situation in the north of the country, President Museveni told the EU Ambassadors that peace was restored in the region through the efforts of the army, the people of the north themselves and regional co-operation.

“The north got peace not through peace talks but by punishing the criminals and more so by regional co-operation between Uganda, South Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic. If you could encourage African countries to co-operate, these problems would be solved”, he told the EU envoys.

He said that what is required in the north is strategic big programmes like infrastructure that provide the base for taking services nearer to the people.

The President cited some of the major roads in the region to be bitumenised, plans to build a railway-line from Gulu to Juba as well as the extension of electricity to the area.

Commenting on security in the Karamoja sub-region, President Museveni explained to the envoys that once there is no local demand for guns in the area, guns will not be available. He, therefore, called on them to help in changing the attitude of the warriors in Karamoja so that they lose appetite for guns.