Kiruhura deputy RDC nabbed allegedly soliciting Shs 3 million bribe

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit yesterday arrested and detained Nicholas Kamukama the deputy RDC of Kiruhura district for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe of Shs 3 million from money lenders to allow them operate within the district.

It is alleged that Kamukama had for a long time blocked Polycarp Kivuna and Herbert Bwayiga, who are money lenders, from operating in the district.

But the money lenders had lent some people in Kiruhura money and wanted to recover it.

Kamukama kept blocking them until he told them that they needed to give him Shs 10 million to help them recover their money.

"The Shs 3 million he was arrested receiving was part of the first instalment of the Shs 10 million total bribe to show our commitment," said Bwayiga, a money lender who had filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Unit.

The money lenders claim that Kamukama had blocked over 200 clients of theirs from paying them back money and had instructed security to chase them out of the district.

"These people owe us about Shs 200 million, but Kamukama asked them not to pay back this money until we clear his bribe," Kivuna another money lender told the Nile post.

Kamukama however denied soliciting a bribe from the money lenders. He accused them of grabbing the property of locals.

However, it was later discovered that Kamukama had used a mediator; Kossia Akangumaho, a district councillor in Kiruhura to receive the bribe on his behalf.

This was however foiled when Akangumaho led the police Police CID officers to Agip Motel in Mbarara, where Kamukama was waiting to receive the Shs 3 million. He was immediately arrested and handcuffed.