The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has arrested a senior customs manager after he was allegedly caught receiving a USD 60,000 (about UGX 214 million) bribe from a taxpayer in Kampala.
Ssozi Geoffrey, the Manager of External Operations in the Customs Department, was arrested last Thursday at a Kampala restaurant following a whistleblower tip.
According to the tax collecting body, Ssozi allegedly approached the taxpayer through a clearing agent and offered to help stop an ongoing tax audit on the taxpayer’s company in exchange for money.
Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs Robert Kalumba said the suspect initially demanded USD 60,000.
“There was an audit that was being done on the tax payer and this team got in touch with the tax payer, with the help of the clearing agent and tried to convince them that they can help the tax payer cut out that audit,” Kalumba said.
The information from the whistleblower enabled URA to intervene, leading to the arrest and recovery of the money, which the authority says will be presented in court as an exhibit.
The clearing agent involved in the alleged transaction was also arrested and is assisting investigators as URA works to establish the involvement of other people.
The arrest comes as URA steps up its campaign against corruption within its ranks, with Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi repeatedly warning staff against abusing their positions for personal gain.
Rujoki said the authority has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and urged taxpayers and the public to report officials demanding bribes.
“The fight against corruption is intensifying in URA and we continue to uphold a zero-tolerance policy to it,” he said.
He added that public cooperation is important in helping URA close avenues through which government revenue can be lost.
The latest case puts the spotlight on URA’s internal controls and its efforts to deal with corruption involving staff who interact directly with taxpayers and businesses.
Rather than allowing the alleged transaction to go unchecked, URA acted on information from a whistleblower, resulting in the arrest of one of its own senior officers.
URA says its legal team is finalizing the paperwork for the case, while investigations continue into other people who may have been involved.
The authority has encouraged taxpayers, clearing agents and members of the public to report suspected corruption through its toll-free whistleblowing line, 0800 257 700.
The authority maintains that corruption has no place in revenue collection and says it will continue pursuing individuals who attempt to use their positions to facilitate tax evasion or interfere with lawful audits.
