KAMPALA – A whistleblower has petitioned the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), alleging corruption and unscrupulous behavior by Ministers Matia Kasaija and Evelyn Anite in the appointment of a new Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) board.
Finance Minister Kasaija, recently dissolved the UIA board chaired by Morrison Rwakakamba.
On September 26, Kasaija appointed his political assistant in Kibaale district, Robert Kyamanywa, as the chairman board of the strategic institution.
Now, in a petition filed on October 4, 2024, whistleblower, one Donozio Opolot has made a litany of allegations regarding the appointment of the new board, also claiming that Hon. Anite engaged in influence peddling, stealing funds, and allocating land irregularly in Namanve Industrial Park, drawing bad blood between her and sacked board.
“Hon. Anite was involved in the influence peddling in the purchase of 30 acres of land for Small and Medium Enterprise Park and Sewerage Treatment Plant worth over UGX 57 billion,” the petition states.
The whistleblower alleges that Hon. Anite seconded companies to UIA for consideration in the land purchase and called meetings at the Ministry of Finance, directing the board to oversee the acquisition.
When the board refused to comply, Hon. Anite allegedly started the process of replacing them with a new board that would take her “scrupulous orders.”
The whistleblower further alleges that Anite has been siphoning funds from Namanve Industrial Park through cost escalation, overtime claims, and other dubious means.
Additionally, she is accused of allocating land irregularly in the industrial park and using her hotel, L’Hotel Le Confidentiel, to supply food during a UIA summit in Nebbi, pocketing over UGX 50 million in the process.
Opolot Donozio’s petition also questions the integrity of the new UIA board appointment, citing the lack of vetting, authentication of academic documents, and relevant experience among its members. Specifically, the appointment of Robert Kyamanywa as chairman, despite his alleged lack of experience in investment matters, raises eyebrows.
The petition claims that Anite forced UIA to reinstate Ms. Amelia Natukunda, whose contract was not renewed due to poor performance. This, coupled with Anite’s alleged ownership of several hotels built with funds siphoned from Namanve Industrial Park, paints a picture of crude accumulation of wealth through corrupt means.
Ministers Kasaija and Anite are accused of drafting and backdating letters to facilitate the appointment of the new UIA board, bypassing established procedures.
When Kasaaija was interviewed by the Sunday Monitor about the anomaly, he said that there was no law stopping him from appointing friends.
“Is there a law that bars you from appointing your relative or friend if they are qualified?” Mr Kasaija was quoted as asking a Daily Monitor Reporter.
When a conflict of interest charge was proffered, Minister Kasaija responded with an emphatic “Hapanaaaaaaa (no way)” before declining “to entertain any other question on the subject.”
The whistleblower urges the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate these serious allegations and take action to protect the integrity of UIA and public funds.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has yet to comment on the petition.
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