State Minister for Investment & Privatisation Evelyn Anite has reported run to President Yoweri Museveni over a Shs 29bn bribe.
Minister is said to be under police investigation for allegedly soliciting a $8 million (Shs 28.8bn) bribe from a group of Arab investors, Observer said.
The minister revealed that she has alerted President Museveni over the matter which she denies is true and last week, the director of Criminal Investigations Directorate, Grace Akullo, said she is not aware of any investigation involving Anite and the alleged bribe but revealed that the President could have ordered the investigation through her superior, the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola.
Asked about the bribed, Anite said; ” … you know, my job is an envious job, there are many people who want to have it. So, you would expect them to say anything. When someone says that you took $8m from investors … really? $8m .. just think about it. Where would someone put such money?”
She added, “I expect to get those bribery allegations because I am stepping on people’s feet. When I tell you that I am going ahead, negotiating big projects, and standing in the way of those who would want a bribe, you expect them to smile and clap hands for me? Of course not.”
What the law says
The code of conduct and ethics for Uganda public services defines bribery as any gratification with a value equal to or more than Shs 20,000 given to public officials by anyone with the intention to influence any current or future decisions.
It further says that if one is given such, they should declare it to the Inspectorate of Government for it to cease being a bribe.
But this has never been the case; officials bag millions of money without mentioning a word of it to anyone, lest they risk their superiors asking for their own share of the gift.
In the event of conviction, it carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail or a cash fine or both.
Court has the discretion under Section 46 of ACA to bar a public officer from holding public office for 10 years.
