By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – The Ugandan government has recalled Ambassador Henry Mayega, the Consul General to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other consulate officials amidst an investigation into allegations of privately procured gambling machines being operated at the Uganda Consulate building in Dubai.
According to the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Okello Oryem, the recall is pending the outcome of the probe, which is being conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
The ambassador and other officials are being investigated following reports that gambling machines, shipped under diplomatic cover between Russia and the Middle East, ended up being operated at the consulate building.
The machines were allegedly procured privately and not authorized by the Ugandan government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Ambassador Mayega and the other officials have been recalled to Kampala to answer questions related to the allegations.
State Minister Oryem emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying: “We have recalled them [Ambassador Mayega and other consulate officials] because we want to investigate them.
We want to know how these machines entered the consulate and who was involved in this transaction.
We will get to the bottom of this matter. If found guilty, they will not return to Dubai, but will have to face the consequences.”
According to Oryem, the Ugandan diplomats in Dubai have have caused Uganda trouble.
“Remember these properties have been cleared as consignment of the embassy but to find out they are casino machines.
It means Ugandans entering UAE will be screened more, he said.”
It should be remembered that Ambassador Joy Ruth Acheng, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Canada, was ordered to leave Canada by August 21, 2024, due to her involvement in many unresolved issues, according to State Minister Oryem.
Notably, out of Uganda’s 38 high missions, a staggering 95 percent are headed by individuals affiliated with the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling party.
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