Police have dismissed rampant social media rumors alleging the arrest and interrogation of several Members of Parliament (MPs) and officials from the Ministry of Finance on corruption charges.
The rumors followed a statement by the President during last week’s State of the Nation Address, where he claimed to have substantial evidence of a corruption racket involving parliamentary and ministry officials.
The President revealed that he had uncovered a scheme where officials from the Ministry of Finance and various parliamentary accounting officers conspired to embezzle taxpayer money.
“I have been hearing stories that there is a racket from the Ministry of Finance to Parliament. I have been hearing, but now I have proof. They work with accounting officers from different ministries to come to Parliament to ask for certain funds and then they share the money,” he said during the address at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Thursday.
Following the President’s revelation, reports emerged on X, formally Twitter over the weekend suggesting that members of the Parliament’s Budget Committee and several parliamentary staff had been arrested in connection with these allegations.
Among those named in the unverified reports were Hon. Herbert Ariko and Cissy Namujju, the Lwengo Woman MP, who were allegedly being detained at the CID headquarters in Kibuli.
However, police spokesperson Fred Enanga has categorically denied these allegations.
Addressing journalists at the weekly press briefing at police headquarters in Naguru, Enanga stated, “We don’t have any confirmation about summoning anyone from the Ministry of Finance or Parliament officials. We know that investigations are a process and if we get any information that supports the summoning of witnesses in this matter that is trending on social media, we shall alert you.”
Enanga emphasized that police summons are official and verifiable documents, not just social media claims.
“Police summons are visible and there are those who have received and displayed them, the language is clear and on headed paper but not just on social media alone. But if you want more information, you can contact those that have been mentioned and confirm whether they are subjects of investigation at this stage or not. But the fact is that once we get any sensitive information, we shall share it with you.”
As the situation stands, no arrests have been confirmed, and investigations are ongoing. Enanga has however assured the public that any significant developments will be communicated through official channel
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