Reported by Sandra Ainebyoona
The Criminal Investigations Department in West Nile is currently carrying out an investigation on three security officials for allegedly accosting and receiving a bribe worth 36 million shillings (USD 10,000) from a Congolese gold dealer.
Prefatory reports show that the accused aided the entry of an anonymous Congolese gold dealer to evade the Uganda Revenue Authority protocol at the border post on March 24, 2023. The accused allegedly intercepted the Congolese businessman before crossing the border and soliciting 10,000 US Dollars as a bribe after which they drove him to Arua city to sell his pieces of gold.
The Accused include James Opolot, a crime Intelligence Officer, Francis Odongo, an operating working with the External Security Organization (ESO), Felix Ezangu, the border internal security officer who are all attached to Vurra customs border point along the Uganda – Democratic Republic of Congo border in Arua district.
The Arua Resident District Commissioner Godfrey Okiswa noted that the matter came to light when the accused officials disagreed on how to share their money.
