KAMPALA – A whistleblower has asked the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to conduct a thorough investigation into what he described as secretive dealings by Investment Minister Evelyn Anite over the management of Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL).
In a letter dated August 16, the whistleblower claims that Ms Anite made a suscipicious, impromptu trip to Mauritius, ostensibly to strike a deal with a company there that wants to take over UTL.
Ms Anite recently travelled to the US for her graduation ceremony after completion of her Masters in Arts in International Relations and Diploma at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
However, the whistleblower claims that the minister later secretively connected from US via France to Mauritius.
“The said trip to Mauritius was not booked in Uganda before her departure for the USA. In Mauritius, she met with the team responsible for ensuring this deal happens and they acquire UTL at a much less than the asset value estimated at $84 million,” the petition to the IGG’s office reads in part.
As a result, the whistleblower says Ms Anite is engaged in influence peddling, abuse of office and corruption.
The whistleblower in his letter demands that the IGG investigates and verify the timing of the alleged trip to Mauritius by Anite and the earlier visit by Mauritius telecom officials to Uganda.
“The purpose of this letter is to request for an investigation into why the trip was secretly booked and not part of her initial booking to USA,” the whistleblower who chose to remain anonymous wrote to IGG.
The petitioner has also asked the Inspector General of Government to investigate Minister Anite’s personal interests in the UTL matters and why she continued handling official duties while on leave, including writing and signing letters pertaining to UTL matters.
“All her other official matters were handled by Hon. David Bahati except for UTL in which she has personal interests. This was irregular considering she was officially on leave.”
The IGG spokesperson, Ms Munira Ali, has confirmed receipt of the petition and that they will study it before taking a decision on the way forward.
Uganda Telecom Limited was in May 2017 put under administration after Libyans, who owned 69% of the shares left at a time when the company had a Shs700b debt.
Early this year, government kicked out Teleology Holdings Limited from Nigeria for failure to pay Shs268 billion within three months of being awarded the UTL deal as had been agreed by both parties.
