President Museveni Reappoints Robert Mukiza as Director General of Uganda Investment Authority

President Yoweri Museveni has reappointed Robert Mukiza as Director General of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), despite a major dispute that rocked the agency in 2024. The conflict between Mukiza and State Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite centered around serious allegations of corruption and governance issues, which drew significant public attention.

In mid-2024, Anite accused Mukiza and UIA staff of awarding themselves Shs545 million in irregular “honoraria” from funds intended for the Namanve Industrial Park. She described the payments as theft and called for a full refund. Mukiza, however, defended the payments, explaining that they were board-approved compensation for extra work done by the staff.

The situation further escalated when Mukiza accused Anite of misusing her influence with international partners, including the British High Commission, to affect decision-making. This added fuel to the ongoing dispute, with both parties exchanging serious allegations against each other.

As the tension grew, President Museveni intervened, ordering investigations into the matter and urging reconciliation between the two officials. Despite the public fallout, President Museveni decided to reappoint Mukiza, signaling his trust in the UIA Director General’s leadership.

In October 2024, a separate investigation led by Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka cleared UIA officials of any wrongdoing in relation to a Shs32 billion payment, further complicating the issue. The entire saga also gave rise to whistleblower allegations accusing Anite of influence peddling and conflict of interest, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy.

With his reappointment, Mukiza’s future at the helm of the Uganda Investment Authority now appears secure, even as the shadows of the earlier dispute continue to loom over the agency.