November 2, 2023
Kampala,Uganda |The Anti-Corruption Unit at State House Uganda, in conjunction with the Uganda Police, has arraigned five suspects in court. Byomugabe George, Mugisha John Bosco, Mugisha Doreen, Kigundu Frank, and Barbra Kyobutungi are facing charges of forging contract documents related to the supply of solar street light systems, ostensibly from the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development. The alleged goal was to defraud a Serbian investor of USD 50 million.
The suspects, along with others who remain at large, are accused of orchestrating a scheme involving the falsification of contract documents. These documents were intended to deceive the Serbian investor into believing they were legitimate, with the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development as the source. This act of deception was aimed at extracting a substantial sum of USD 50 million from the investor.
The suspects have been remanded, and their case is scheduled for further hearings on November 10, 2023. This development highlights the ongoing efforts to address corruption issues that have, at times, hindered foreign investments in the country.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been vocal about the need to root out corruption and create a more favorable investment climate. He has expressed concern about locals collaborating with certain government officials to engage in fraudulent activities that deter investors. To tackle these issues, President Museveni established the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, among other initiatives, to combat the high levels of corruption that have sometimes thwarted investment in Uganda.
