By Ritah Kemigisa
The foreign affairs Ministry has responded to media reports linking Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa to bribery allegations of the China Energy Fund Committee.
According to the media reports, Kutesa in 2016 allegedly received a Shs1.8 billion bribe from Patrick Ho, a Chinese national to help secure contracts and ventures in Uganda’s energy and financial sectors for a Chinese energy company.
However, a statement from the ministry’s permanent secretary, Ambassador Patrick Mugoya indicates that while serving as the President of the General Assembly of the UN during its 69th Session in 2014 – 2015, kutesa interacted and engaged with numerous organizations including, civil society, media and private sector.
Mugoya adds that because of his position Kutesa participated as a member of a High-level Steering Committee responsible for the selection of candidates for the UN Energy Grant and it is during the award ceremony that Kuteesa met Patrick Ho who attended representing China Energy Fund Committee.
Mugoya says the interaction the two had was in fulfillment of his official functions as President of the UN General Assembly and nothing more.
