East African business index tracks bribery and corruption

A recently released 2011 Business Climate Index has revealed a high level of corruption in all police check points within the East African region, with Uganda leading by 94%, followed by Kenya with 70% and Rwanda at 63 %. That’s according to a report in Dar es Salaam’s The Citizen. The survey was undertaken by the Arusha-based East African Business Council and focused on five EAC member states – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The least corrupt police in the region are in Burundi with only 33%. The report indicated that the region had a 59 % average of corruption. Reasons for bribery related to overloaded vehicles, incorrect cargo documents, speeding, defective vehicles and drivers’ papers not being in order. According to The Citizen, the Business Climate Index 2011 survey was carried out between September and December 2011, with the aim of collecting and disseminating information on the business environment in EAC countries in order to track improvements or deteriorations on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and other business climate factors.