The President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, said on Monday that he will set up a a specialized Unit attached to State house, to handle corrupt tendencies and extortion claims from investors .
During his address to mark the Labour day celebrations in Namutumba District, the president noted that investors have fallen victim to corrupt officials in political and technical fields who usually demand bribes besides channel investment and employment opportunities.
His remarks followed those of the Labor and Gender Affairs minister, Betty Amongi who claimed that, public officials are imposing heavy bribes on investors and overtime frustrating the set up of business enterprises in the areas like mining, agriculture, tourism among others
In his speech, the president observed that such acts are done under the pretext of fastening investor efforts to for-instance set up factories. He explained that such practices from politicians and technocrats are slowing down the country’s economic growth.
He said the investigative unit will be a one-stop call center, where investors can report cases of corruption in different offices across the country.
It will increase the trust by the investors in the country’s systems and attract more parties to harness the country’s investment opportunities.
Museveni noted that his office has also been furnished with different reports concerning corrupt officials, like politicians and some enforcement teams within the Uganda Revenue Authority – URA, whom he faults of impounding imports from unsuspecting investors, before forcing them to pay bribes or risk losing their goods to auctioning.