Corruption in Uganda has roots in the colonial era. The colonial government established institutions like the police, army, and judiciary to serve British interests. This led to a culture where leaders were not held accountable, as they often intimidated and suppressed the local population.
In 1900, British Commissioner Harry Johnston bribed Apollo Kagwa with 100 cows to sign the Buganda Agreement, which legitimized colonial rule in Buganda and Uganda. Kagwa was hesitant to sign the agreement.
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In 1900, British Commissioner Harry Johnston bribed Apollo Kagwa with 100 cows to sign the Buganda Agreement, which legitimized colonial rule in Buganda and Uganda. Kagwa was hesitant to sign the agreement.
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Gold Scandal (1966)
In February 1966, members of Uganda's independence government, including Prime Minister Obote and Deputy Army Commander Idi Amin, faced accusations of smuggling and corruption. These allegations were linked to the army's involvement in fighting rebels in the Congo, with Idi Amin leading the troops against Moise Tshombe’s rebels.
After the operation, money from smuggled gold and ivory was found in the personal bank accounts of government officials. Notably, UGX 340,000 was deposited into Idi Amin’s bank account in Kampala, violating army regulations. Other officials implicated included Felix Onama, Milton Obote, and Adoko Nekyon.
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In February 1966, members of Uganda's independence government, including Prime Minister Obote and Deputy Army Commander Idi Amin, faced accusations of smuggling and corruption. These allegations were linked to the army's involvement in fighting rebels in the Congo, with Idi Amin leading the troops against Moise Tshombe’s rebels.
After the operation, money from smuggled gold and ivory was found in the personal bank accounts of government officials. Notably, UGX 340,000 was deposited into Idi Amin’s bank account in Kampala, violating army regulations. Other officials implicated included Felix Onama, Milton Obote, and Adoko Nekyon.
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Dr. Ben Ochola Latigo (1986)
On February 24, 1986, Dr. Ben Latigo Ochola, the General Manager of Uganda Airlines, ordered a plane to return after it had been in the air for 30 minutes because he had missed his flight from Entebbe to Karachi, Pakistan. This decision drew widespread criticism from the government, media, and the public.
Dr. Latigo was arrested about two weeks later and granted a cash bail of UGX 300,000 before being acquitted. An inquiry revealed that he owned a company that rented Mercedes Benz cars to Uganda Airlines for UGX 95,000 per day. He was replaced as General Manager by Col. Wilson Gadi Toko.
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On February 24, 1986, Dr. Ben Latigo Ochola, the General Manager of Uganda Airlines, ordered a plane to return after it had been in the air for 30 minutes because he had missed his flight from Entebbe to Karachi, Pakistan. This decision drew widespread criticism from the government, media, and the public.
Dr. Latigo was arrested about two weeks later and granted a cash bail of UGX 300,000 before being acquitted. An inquiry revealed that he owned a company that rented Mercedes Benz cars to Uganda Airlines for UGX 95,000 per day. He was replaced as General Manager by Col. Wilson Gadi Toko.
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Uganda Industrial Machinery Ltd scandal (1987)
In 1987, Nathan Bisamunyu, the General Manager of Uganda Industrial Machinery Ltd, teamed up with his acting chief accountant, Joseph Watson Wasswa, to embezzle UGX 760 million from the company. They were arrested by police in Kampala, but the case became politicized and dragged on.
The Inspector General of Government found strong evidence against them, but claims surfaced that Bisamunyu was being protected by NRM officials and a minister from his home area in Kabale. Eventually, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the case.
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In 1987, Nathan Bisamunyu, the General Manager of Uganda Industrial Machinery Ltd, teamed up with his acting chief accountant, Joseph Watson Wasswa, to embezzle UGX 760 million from the company. They were arrested by police in Kampala, but the case became politicized and dragged on.
The Inspector General of Government found strong evidence against them, but claims surfaced that Bisamunyu was being protected by NRM officials and a minister from his home area in Kabale. Eventually, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the case.
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Santana Vehicle Scandal (1988)
Grace Ibingira, a former minister from the independence government and then Spanish Counsul to Uganda, facilitated a deal between Uganda and Spain, where Uganda would trade coffee for Land Rover vehicles. Ibingira had told the government in Kampala that Spanish made Land Rovers were as good as the British ones.
In mid-1988, when Balaki Kirya, the state minister for security, travelled to Spain to sign the agreement, he discovered that 260 Santanas worth $6.1 million had already been shipped. Though the Santanas looked like Land Rovers, they were not Land Rovers; they were smaller, weaker and consumed more fuel.
Agents were also negotiating to import another 260 Land Rovers valued at $8 million.
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Grace Ibingira, a former minister from the independence government and then Spanish Counsul to Uganda, facilitated a deal between Uganda and Spain, where Uganda would trade coffee for Land Rover vehicles. Ibingira had told the government in Kampala that Spanish made Land Rovers were as good as the British ones.
In mid-1988, when Balaki Kirya, the state minister for security, travelled to Spain to sign the agreement, he discovered that 260 Santanas worth $6.1 million had already been shipped. Though the Santanas looked like Land Rovers, they were not Land Rovers; they were smaller, weaker and consumed more fuel.
Agents were also negotiating to import another 260 Land Rovers valued at $8 million.
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UCB Sale Scandal (1998)
In 1998, Parliament stopped the sale of 49% of Uganda Commercial Bank, a government-owned bank, to a Malaysian company. Salim Saleh, who facilitated the deal, resigned as defence advisor after it was revealed that the winning bidder, Westmont Land Asia, was a briefcase company.
Saleh was a majority shareholder in Westmont Land Asia and sold his shares to Green Land Investments shortly after the UCB shares were purchased. Sulaiman Kiggundu, the managing director of the defunct Greenland Bank, implicated President Museveni as a key figure behind the irregular sale of UCB shares to Greenland Bank.
In 1999, Minister for Privatisation Mathew Rukaire resigned just before Parliament censured him for irregularities in the privatization of Uganda Commercial Bank. That same year, Minister of Transport and Works Kirunda Kivejinja was forced to resign for diverting 2,000 litres of fuel from Uganda Railways Corporation for personal use.
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In 1998, Parliament stopped the sale of 49% of Uganda Commercial Bank, a government-owned bank, to a Malaysian company. Salim Saleh, who facilitated the deal, resigned as defence advisor after it was revealed that the winning bidder, Westmont Land Asia, was a briefcase company.
Saleh was a majority shareholder in Westmont Land Asia and sold his shares to Green Land Investments shortly after the UCB shares were purchased. Sulaiman Kiggundu, the managing director of the defunct Greenland Bank, implicated President Museveni as a key figure behind the irregular sale of UCB shares to Greenland Bank.
In 1999, Minister for Privatisation Mathew Rukaire resigned just before Parliament censured him for irregularities in the privatization of Uganda Commercial Bank. That same year, Minister of Transport and Works Kirunda Kivejinja was forced to resign for diverting 2,000 litres of fuel from Uganda Railways Corporation for personal use.
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1998 and 1999 Censures
In 1998, Minister of Education Jim Muhwezi was forced to resign by Parliament for mismanaging the newly established Universal Primary Education Program. In 1999, Minister of Finance Sam Kutesa also resigned due to a conflict of interest, as he benefited from the sale of the defunct Uganda Airlines.
He influenced his private company, Entebbe Handling Services, to take over profitable ground handling services at Entebbe Airport. The government believed the censure was unfair, while Muhwezi claimed he had already faced enough punishment by being out of the cabinet for years. Neither minister was prosecuted, but both were reappointed to the cabinet in 2001.
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In 1998, Minister of Education Jim Muhwezi was forced to resign by Parliament for mismanaging the newly established Universal Primary Education Program. In 1999, Minister of Finance Sam Kutesa also resigned due to a conflict of interest, as he benefited from the sale of the defunct Uganda Airlines.
He influenced his private company, Entebbe Handling Services, to take over profitable ground handling services at Entebbe Airport. The government believed the censure was unfair, while Muhwezi claimed he had already faced enough punishment by being out of the cabinet for years. Neither minister was prosecuted, but both were reappointed to the cabinet in 2001.
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UPDF Procurement Scandals of the 1990s.
In the 1990s, the UPDF faced several procurement scandals, including buying undersized uniforms from China, substandard food rations from South Africa, and 90 second-hand tanks, many of which were unserviceable.
One notable scandal involved the purchase of junk helicopters, where of the 4 Mi-24s acquired, 2 of them could not fly.
The helicopter deal was brokered by Emma Katto, a race car driver, with assistance from Salim Saleh, who was to receive a $200,000 commission for each helicopter. In 2001, Saleh told a commission of inquiry that he had informed the president about the commission, and it was approved for use in the war against LRA rebels in Northern Uganda.
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In the 1990s, the UPDF faced several procurement scandals, including buying undersized uniforms from China, substandard food rations from South Africa, and 90 second-hand tanks, many of which were unserviceable.
One notable scandal involved the purchase of junk helicopters, where of the 4 Mi-24s acquired, 2 of them could not fly.
The helicopter deal was brokered by Emma Katto, a race car driver, with assistance from Salim Saleh, who was to receive a $200,000 commission for each helicopter. In 2001, Saleh told a commission of inquiry that he had informed the president about the commission, and it was approved for use in the war against LRA rebels in Northern Uganda.
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Danze Tax Evasion Scandal (1996)
In 1996, it was found that Danze, a company owned by the NRM with Museveni as its chairman, had been evading taxes for over a decade. The government lost $3.4 million to tax evasion from Danze’s smuggling of general imports and exports within a year. The company was managed by NRM leaders, including Eriya Kategeya, and was disbanded after the scandal.
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In 1996, it was found that Danze, a company owned by the NRM with Museveni as its chairman, had been evading taxes for over a decade. The government lost $3.4 million to tax evasion from Danze’s smuggling of general imports and exports within a year. The company was managed by NRM leaders, including Eriya Kategeya, and was disbanded after the scandal.
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