The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has publicly displayed $60,000 (approximately UGX 225 million) in physical cash recovered during a sting operation into an alleged bribery racket involving a senior customs manager stationed along the central trade corridor.
The stacks of foreign currency were presented to journalists at URA headquarters in Kampala as formal evidentiary exhibits in the corruption case against Geoffrey Ssozi Kawere, the tax body’s Manager for External Operations Customs based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
1. The Anatomy of the Bribery Scheme
Addressing members of the press, URA Public and Corporate Affairs Manager Robert Kalumba revealed that the cash was allegedly solicited and pocketed as an illicit inducement to manipulate and circumvent customs audit and clearance processes.
According to internal enforcement briefs, the suspect allegedly approached a corporate taxpayer whose operations were actively undergoing a forensic tax audit, offering to freeze or compromise the compliance review in exchange for the USD 60,000 kickback.
Operation Summary:
├── Recovered Amount: $60,000 (Approx. UGX 225 Million)
├── Suspect: Geoffrey Ssozi Kawere (Manager, External Operations Customs - Dar es Salaam)
├── Allegation: Soliciting bribes to compromise customs tax audits
└── Current Status: Formal legal prosecution & disciplinary proceedings underway
2. Strengthening Border and Regional Trade Corridor Integrity
The Dar es Salaam customs desk serves as a vital artery for Ugandan imports entering through the Tanzanian coastline. URA stated that the successful undercover recovery is part of an ongoing zero-tolerance crackdown aimed at rooting out institutional compromises across regional trade routes.
The tax body emphasized that the integrity of external clearing points is vital to protecting the national treasury against revenue leakage and unfair trade practices.
3. Disciplinary & Criminal Proceedings Underway
URA confirmed that both internal disciplinary measures and formal criminal prosecution protocols against Kawere are actively moving forward.
The tax administration reaffirmed its mandate to enforce accountability within its ranks, warning that staff involved in corrupt collusion with taxpayers or clearing agents will face immediate arrest, asset forfeiture, and criminal prosecution.
