The Uganda Investments Authority (UIA) Director General, Robert Mukiza, has accused the State Minister for Investment, Evelyn Anite, of fabricating lies about a meeting with the British High Commissioner and orchestrating cyber harassment against Dubai Prince Sheikh Mohammed Juma Al Maktoum.
In a letter dated July 23, 2024, Mukiza addressed the accusations, which have also been circulated to President Museveni’s Principal Private Secretary, the Minister of Finance, the UIA Board Chairman, the Attorney General, and all UIA staff who received honorarium payments that the minister had directed should be refunded.
Mukiza claims that after being asked to receive the Dubai Prince and accompany him to the Heroes Day celebration where he was awarded, some individuals threatened by the Prince’s potential investments sponsored bloggers to create fake content against him. This content falsely portrayed Sheikh Mohammed Juma Al Maktoum as a conman impersonating a member of Dubai’s royal family.
Mukiza also refutes Anite’s claims of having met with the UK High Commissioner to Uganda to discuss the Namanve project management, calling these claims inaccurate and misleading. He highlights that UK embassies typically do not involve themselves in micro-managing projects funded by the UK, and specifically, the British Commissioner’s office does not interfere with the day-to-day operations of projects funded by United Kingdom Export Finance. The Namanve project, Mukiza explains, was signed between Uganda Investments Authority and Standard Chartered Bank, not involving the British High Commission office.
“The above analysis therefore brings me to the conclusion that you lied about the meeting with the British High Commissioner as well as your engagement with United Kingdom Export Finance regarding honoraria and VOP payments to the contractor,” Mukiza stated.
Mukiza has called for Anite’s resignation and suggested she should face legal consequences at Luzira Prison if his claims are proven false. However, he also expressed forgiveness towards Anite, citing President Museveni’s guidance for the good of UIA.
Anite, in a letter dated July 3, had expressed her disappointment in Mukiza for allegedly lying to the president. She accused Mukiza of deflecting from fund misuse accusations by claiming she was driven by personal motives.
Despite the accusations, Anite mentioned that she had buried the hatchet with Mukiza.
