Jinja: 2 URA Staff Arrested by Anti-corruption Unit for Taking Shs 45m Bribe

The State House Anti-corruption Unit together with Police CID have arrested two staff of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for allegedly taking a bribe from a trader in Jinja.

The two suspects who are currently in Police custody were arrested on Tuesday, according to the Senior Press Secretary to the President, Don Wanyama.

They are reported to have taken a Shs 45m bribe from the trader to allegedly help him evade taxes.

Those arrested have been identified as Wamala Ferdinand and Hassan Miiro who were working at the URA Jinja office.

“State House Anti-Corruption Unit together with CID have today arrested two staff of @URAuganda who had picked Shs 45m bribe from a trader in Jinja to help him evade taxes worth Shs 3bn. They’re in police custody & will be charged,” Wanyama said.

The Police Regional Spokesperson for Kiira, Diana Nandawula confirmed that the arrest was made but that the operation was entirely handled by the Anti-corruption Unit. She said that the two suspects have been transferred to Kampala.

It comes four days after Lt Col Edith Nakalema who heads the Anti-corruption Unit met with officials of URA including the Commissioner General, Doris Akol to discuss issues including the fight against corruption.

The Anti-corruption Unit was launched in December last year by President Yoweri Museveni and its role is to receive and act on complaints relating to corruption.

Museveni said the Unit is the “missing link” in government’s efforts to weed out corruption which has over the years stalled service delivery.

Since its inception, it has carried out raids on the Wakiso district lands office and arrested some staff, among other recent operations.