A senior Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) customs official has denied allegations linking him to a corruption case involving US$60,000, equivalent to about Shs220 million.
The official, Sozzi Geoffrey Kawere, who serves as the Manager of External Operations Customs, appeared alongside other URA officials as the tax body addressed questions surrounding the alleged money and the circumstances in which it was reportedly handled.
According to the information circulating alongside the images, Kawere has rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, maintaining his innocence against the allegations.
The matter has nevertheless attracted attention because of the official’s position within URA, particularly in the customs department where officials regularly deal with high-value imports, taxes and revenue collection.
The allegations also come at a time when customs operations remain under close public scrutiny, with concerns periodically raised over bribery, tax evasion, undervaluation of goods and other practices that can deprive government of much-needed revenue.
URA’s decision to publicly address the matter involving one of its senior officers signals the seriousness with which allegations of misconduct are being treated within the institution.
For Kawere, however, the allegations remain accusations, and his denial means that any determination of responsibility will depend on the findings of the relevant investigations or legal proceedings.
The case is therefore likely to remain under the spotlight as authorities work to establish what happened to the US$60,000 and whether any official misconduct occurred.
