The CHOGM inquiry by the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee seemingly has the backing of the President. In his new year's address to the nation, President Museveni sounded tough on those accounting officers and civil servants who steal public funds. He specifically sent a warning message to those who flouted the procurement procedures during preparations for the November 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala. The abuse of procedure and outright fraud led to loss of billions of shillings of taxpayers' money. Museveni said that after the PAC investigations, his government will take punitive measures against those found at fault and 'relevant courts of law will deal with these people.'

However, the biggest question that lingers in people's mind is whether we shall see more serious action being taken against those who steal public funds with impunity including the 'untouchables'. The investigations into the expenditure of the CHOGM funds have implicated Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and Vice President Gilbert Bukenya in flouting procurement procedures in the purchase of the BMW vehicles that were used in transporting CHOGM VIPs. They are also variously named in other procurements they engaged in as having ignored the established procedures. Museveni said: 'time for lenience is over. I will not hesitate to take action against permanent secretaries and civil servants involved in corruption.'Indeed towards the end of year, a few arrests of some health workers stealing drugs from health centres in upcountry districts were carried out.

As usual the President lashed out at courts of law which he accused of frustrating the fight against corruption by granting bail to people on corruption charges.

Away from corruption, Museveni said more road upgrading will go on and more roads will be upgraded to tarmac. However, despite allocating over Shs 2 trillion to the road sector in the last two financial years, motorists are still complaining of the poor quality of our roads and the numerous potholes in them.

As for the energy sector, the President said three more dams will be constructed to beef up the electricity production in the country. This, Museveni says, will assist in realising the vision of a transformed economy from preindustrial to industrial. In all, the President pledged to fix the shortfalls in all sectors of the economy ranging from energy; agriculture; transport; trade; education; industry; health; social services; revenue collection; employment; security and international relations.

He listed impressive figures of economic growth, stating that despite fears that the global economic recession would hurt the economy, economic growth continues at a relatively high rate of 6.6%. 'This means the size of the economy increased from Shs28 trillion in 2008 to Shs 33 trillion in 2009.

Although this estimated growth rate in 2009 is lower than of 2008 of 9.2%, it was among the fastest in the world during the period of economic downturn, according to the President.

Godber Tumushabe, CEO of the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), a civil society think tank on public policy and research, says the challenge is having continued economic growth without social transformation where we still have pregnant mothers dying in health facilities due to absence of drugs or proper medical care.

The President announced that his government has identified 14 flagship projects to provide impulse for unlocking the binding constraints within the economy- national skills programme, constructing a standard railway line, rehabilitating the existing railway line, development of greater metropolitan Kampala and implementing rapid transport system, improve water transport on Lake Victoria, construction of three hydro power stations (Karuma, Ayago and Isimba),development of oil and gas refinery, construction of oil and gas pipeline. He also cited development of ICT business parks, construction and development of four regional incubation centres, construction of four large scale irrigation schemes, development of the phosphate industry in Tororo, iron ore at Muko and supporting science innovations in universities and other tertiary institutions.

Observers say many of these projects have been recurring in the President's previous speeches. They cite irrigation schemes and railway network which have largely run into disuse. For example the irrigation at Mubuku is nearing extinction as the land has been allocated to individual small farmers due to mismanagement. Perhaps our hope for action should be placed on the fact that because we are approaching the election period some action might be taken on some of these projects.

"We shall continue our firm stance of reducing poverty to 24.5%, the target that is better than the one of the Millennium Development Goals,"Museveni declared in his New Year message to the nation.

His projection of the nominal per capita income is an increase from $ 506 to $ 900 by 2014 while wealth creation thrust will ensure a generation of more than 2.7 million jobs.

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