In a twist to the ongoing investigation at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), a group of officers who were recently arrested and charged in anti-corruption court over falsification of transactions accuse the URA intelligence team of harassment.
According to a source John Mawerere, along with his team were subjected to repeated confiscation of personal gadgets such as laptops and phones without explanation, raising concerns about the handling of the investigation.
According to sources close to Mawerere, this harassment had been ongoing for some time before his arrest.
On the day of his detention, URA’s intelligence team once again seized his and his team’s gadgets, later instructing them to leave the office and report to the Central Police Station (CPS) to record statements. From CPS, they were taken to the Anti-Corruption Court, where they were charged with falsifying transactions.
They applied for bail as they await the hearing of their main application, scheduled for September 18.
Contrary to earlier reports linking Mawerere to the IT department, new information has surfaced revealing that he serves as a business analyst in URA’s project management division, focusing on collaborations with donors and sponsors.
Although an accountant by profession, his role doesn’t involve in overseeing any transactions or direct involvement with financial data.
This revelation raises critical questions about how Mawerere became implicated in the tax fraud scandal, particularly when his official duties did not align with the allegations of falsifying transactions.
In government there has always been a tendency of sacrificing junior officers who are perceived as a threat to the their seniors. Could it be the case at URA?
Mawerere’s team has raised concerns about the potential tampering with evidence, specifically the confiscated gadgets. Since they had no control over the devices after URA intelligence seized them, sources within Mawerere’s camp have expressed fears that data on the gadgets could have been manipulated to bolster the case against them.
While the scandal has raised serious questions about corruption within URA, the handling of Mawerere’s case is equally under scrutiny. The law stipulates that government officials charged in court must step aside from their positions until they are either acquitted or found guilty.
However, Mawerere and his team have remained in office, a move that further complicates the situation and calls into question URA’s enforcement of legal norms.
URA spokesperson Robert Kalumba, when initially contacted for comment, stated he was unaware of the investigation but promised to revert with more information. By press time, no further details had been provided.
This scandal is the latest in a series of corruption cases that have plagued URA for years. President Yoweri Museveni had previously established a special unit to oversee URA’s operations in an attempt to curb corruption.
The unit, led by David Kalemera, has faced its own controversies, as Kalemera himself had previously been charged with corruption, though some have claimed his conviction was politically motivated.
The gravity of this latest case underscores the continued struggle within URA to eliminate corrupt practices, despite several reforms aimed at cleaning up the organization.
