A female customs officer at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), identified as Enid Priscilla Katusiime, is at the center of intense public debate after she rejected a Shs 300 million bribe and uncovered a concealed shipment of $10 million (approximately Shs 37 billion).
Katusiime recently earned praise from URA leadership after she declined multiple bribe offers and reported the discovery of the cash, which had been hidden in a container declared to carry household items such as forks and spoons. Her vigilance led to the arrest of a suspect, a Ugandan returnee from Turkey, while the money was handed over to the Bank of Uganda.
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki awarded her a certificate of recognition, describing her actions as a demonstration of the highest level of integrity and professionalism.
However, even as URA celebrated her, sections of the public have reacted sharply differently.
Across social media platforms including WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, many Ugandans criticized Katusiime’s decision, with some accusing her of being “myopic” and claiming she had missed a rare opportunity to instantly change her financial status.
A dominant sentiment among critics was skepticism about the ultimate fate of the recovered funds. Some users argued that the money she reported could end up being misappropriated by corrupt officials, suggesting that her act of integrity might not necessarily translate into public benefit.
Others went as far as framing her decision as impractical in a system they perceive as deeply flawed, where whistleblowers and honest officers are rarely rewarded proportionately.
Some of the reactions on X
@GSsebanja: Oyo musiru (meaning she is stupid)
@Kennedy opio: And guess what, that 10billion, will be smashed by some greedy officials in Bank of Uganda
@Cleavon87: Omwoyo gwo bwaavu… (meaning she is possessed with poverty spirits)
@Unice1972: So hopeless of the officer
@jjllawry: Pray for wisdom, my brother, and start thinking in a different way. such is for smart people. I am sorry for assuming she is smart!!
@Sharonbamwet: She will die a poor woman, such opportunities come once in a life time
@KirungiAndrea: The agent also needed temptation notes from satan. You cant have 37bn and want to bribe with 300m. That said, the female officer showed that integrity and values cant be bought. She will certainly get a promotion soon.
@Dawudi11: 300m is too small I would also reject it , you can’t have 37b then u offer me 300m give me 1b and see if I would reject it
@Lieutenant1_2: Generational poverty!
Despite the backlash, URA officials have maintained that strict verification and enforcement remain critical in combating smuggling and illicit financial flows. URA spokesperson Robert Kalumba previously noted that resistance to verification by some clearing agents often points to attempts to conceal undeclared goods.
The incident has now sparked a broader national conversation — not just about corruption and integrity, but also about public trust in institutions and the personal cost of doing the right thing in a challenging environment.
