Mafias want to kill me, but I won't stop exposing them- Anite

Minister of State for Privatisation and Investment, Ms Evelyn Anite has said there is a plan by mafias in government to kill her.

Addressing the press Monday morning at Ministry of Finance headquarters in Kampala, Ms Anite said that there was a plan to remove her from the Uganda Telecom (UTL) battle and to end her life.  

“The plan by the mafias is to take Anite out of the picture, I might die but history will judge them. You know the mafias, they are the ones who have been blocking the audit,” she said.

She, however, said that she would not stop fighting to save UTL or exposing bad characters in government.

“These mafias are not jokers. Go and ask Abiriga. I will die with my mouth open, I will die while shouting the mafias are coming, until they take me down. They are tapping my phone, I hear their voices when I pick up my phone.”

Last week, a whistle blower petitioned the IGG asking for investigations into an alleged secret booking from US via France to Mauritius by Ms Anite to meet investors who want to take over UTL.

But Ms Anite denied having any relationship with the Mauritius Company and said the petition was the work of the mafias.

She also said that she has not been to Mauritius as alleged by the petition.

“I have no relationship with Mauritius Telecom Company. The report by financial intelligence is what prompted me to support them. My name has been tarnished but I will continue fighting for the truth,” she said.  

Two weeks back High Court in Kampala ordered for an audit into the struggling Uganda Telecom (UTL) within 30 days as the minister had requested.

“My issue is that the telecom has to be saved, whether Abimanya is in or out. I have struggled to save that company three times, the first time we argued with attorney generals, they said we must liquidate it. Private lawyers argued the case against liquidation, and we won.”

The audit into UTL started last Thursday.

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Earlier on August 2, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the secretary to the treasury had issued a letter directing the UTL administrator, Mr Twebaze Bemanya, not to avail the books of accounts to the ministry’s internal auditor general, Mr Fixon Okony.

Ms Anite had also in her letter of July 24, given an ultimatum of one month to Mr Okony to audit UTL as ordered by the President.

UTL was put under administration in May 2017 after Libyans, who owned 69% of the shares, left at a time when the company had a Shs700b debt.

In January, government kicked out Nigerian firm Teleology Holdings Ltd after it failed to pay Shs268 billion within three months of being awarded the UTL deal as had been agreed by both parties.

The core purpose of reviewing a company is to among others; identify inefficiencies, reduce costs and achieve organisational objectives.

Similarly, auditing firms may investigate potential theft or fraud and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and policies.