A senior Ugandan tax official has been arrested after allegedly accepting a $60,000 bribe from a taxpayer in Kampala, authorities said.
Geoffrey Ssozi, Manager of External Operations in the Customs Department of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), was arrested last Thursday after investigators allegedly caught him receiving the money at a Kampala restaurant.
URA said the case began with a whistleblower’s report concerning an ongoing audit of a taxpayer.
According to Robert Kalumba, URA’s Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Ssozi allegedly approached the taxpayer through a clearing agent and offered to intervene in the audit in exchange for money.
“There was an audit that was being done on the taxpayer and this team got in touch with the taxpayer, with the help of the clearing agent and tried to convince them that they can help the taxpayer cut out that audit,” Kalumba said.
Alleged bribe was negotiated down
URA investigators said Ssozi initially demanded $100,000, worth about Shs345 million, before the amount was allegedly negotiated down to $60,000, approximately Shs207 million.
The clearing agent allegedly involved in the transaction was also arrested and is assisting investigators.
URA said investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged payment and whether other people may have been involved.
Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi said the authority was stepping up its campaign against corruption and urged taxpayers and members of the public to report suspected bribery.
“The fight against corruption is intensifying in URA and we continue to uphold a zero-tolerance policy to it,” Musinguzi said.
“We call upon the general public to report all incidents of corruption as we fight to close all gaps of revenue leakage from these avenues.”
URA prepares case for court
The authority said its legal team was preparing the case file and that the money seized during the operation would be presented in court as an exhibit.
The alleged scheme centers on an attempt to interfere with a tax audit, an enforcement process that can result in taxpayers being required to pay additional taxes or face other regulatory action.
The case puts renewed attention on corruption risks within revenue collection agencies, where officials can wield significant authority over taxpayers and businesses.
URA has urged anyone with information about corruption involving its officials to report it through its toll-free line 0800 257 700.
Ssozi’s arrest and the allegations against him do not establish guilt. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a court determines otherwise.
