Uganda | Pretrial detention of a former local official on charges of requesting a bribe in exchange for promoting a government employee | CUAC

Civil Union - Follow-ups Uganda's Anti-Corruption Court has ordered Betty Hope Nakase, former Mukono District Council chairwoman, to be remanded in custody until October 21, 2026, after she was charged with corruption, over allegations that she demanded a bribe in exchange for using her influence to help promote a government employee. According to the Uganda Broadcasting Network, the authorities accuse Nakase of requesting two million Ugandan shillings from a former procurement official in Buikwe District, on June 30, 2025, in exchange for intervening with the Mukono District Service Commission to help him obtain a promotion to the position of senior procurement official. The measures followed investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Ugandan Presidential Office, in cooperation with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Attorney General's Office, into suspicions of extortion and the illegal sale of government jobs. The case highlights the dangers of exploiting influence and public positions for personal gain, and the threat this represents to the principle of equal opportunities and integrity of employment in government institutions. The case underscores the importance of strengthening oversight of appointment and promotion procedures, activating mechanisms for reporting bribery and extortion, and ensuring that suspicions of corruption are investigated and officials are held accountable in accordance with the law, while respecting the presumption of innocence until a final judicial ruling is issued. Source: Uganda Radio Network (URN)