Evelyn Anite, the State Minister for Investment and Privatization has said the mafia has tried so much to link her to dirty deals but has failed to get any evidence on her, saying she is ready for jail if it ever comes out.
“I know I have gone through fire but if I am guilty, I am ready to face whatever comes my way. If I have fallen short of God’s glory and evidence is there, I am ready to walk to Luzira. People are fearing the corrupt because they are powerful but I won’t back off. If there is evidence that I took money from such and such an investor or have shares in such and such a company, I am ready to walk to Luzira,” Anite said.
The minister was on Monday afternoon speaking during an online engagement about corruption.
Anite said following the expose, the corrupt, whom she described as mafia has started schemes to tarnish her name by linking her to several flourishing businesses in the country.
She said allegations have also been brought to show she has amassed a lot of wealth.
“When I joined Parliament, my first salary was shs28 million! From a salary of shs500,000/ at the Uganda Media Centre to shs28 million. Now it has grown to shs40m! And you expect me to be poor! You say I am so rich because I have mentioned corruption? I talked to IGG and asked she does a lifestyle audit on me,” Anite said.
She added that for her hotel in Arua and factory, she pays all taxes.
The minister said this was the same story when she started fighting for Uganda Telecom.
“When I declared war that its assets should not be divided among a few people at the expense of Ugandans, I was called names and threatened. The way corruption fought back was to say I took shs28 billion from investors from Mauritius. Who is this investor who can give Anite Shs28bn and doesn’t take the company but keeps quiet? I want to tell you even if Ugandans didn’t say thank you, UTL is now 100% locally owned. Despite all allegations that I had interest and given money, Ugandans now have a company in the name of UTEL.”
“However, this came at a cost and it was heavy because the mafia followed me to my political seat but I don’t mind because it was not in my interest to be in politics. I lost my political office to corruption.”
Anite said she has previously been accused of bringing fake investors to the country but said it is crystal clear for everyone to see what she has done in Namanve Industrial Park which she said now boasts of 54 factories, many of which have ensured the country starts the import substitution journey.
She insisted she won’t back off exposing the corrupt, despite seeing scenarios where they fight back harshly.
“I have walked the talk on corruption but with time they will see this when I am gone. I have revolutionalised investment with the support of the president. I know there are allegations that I have shares in Kinyara Sugar Works and many other companies. The company responsible for registration of all businesses in the country is URSB and they can check with them. This is how the corrupt fight back. They give you other people’s assets. They have given me everything I don’t own. When I support Ugandan investors, they ask what my relationship with them and when I support Chinese, they say I am on their side. “
“Like you have asked me for my property, let every government official account for what they have. Accept the lifestyle audit by the IGG. Anyone with evidence against me should bring it forward and am ready to walk to Luzira.”
