Gilbert Bukenya (C) switches the button that will start the destruction of antipersonnel Mines at Kigo Shooting Range while Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) officers assist at the ceremony 07 July 2003.PETER BUSOMOKE/AFP / Getty Images
Uganda has dropped corruption charges levelled against a former vice president because the government has been named in a civil suit connected to the same graft scandal, the inspectorate of government said on Friday.
Gilbert Bukenya, who was sacked by President Yoweri Museveni in May in a cabinet reshuffle, was charged with two counts of abuse of office in the anti-graft court in June. Government critics said at the time the charges were politically motivated, meant to eliminate Mr. Bukenya as a political threat to Mr. Museveni.
"The inspectorate of government has discontinued the case against former vice president Prof. Gilbert Bukenya," said Ali Munira, spokesman for the Inspector General of Government, in an emailed statement.
"This is for the reason that it has come to the attention of the inspectorate of government that the state has been dragged to court in civil litigation by Spear Motors over the same transactions."
Mr. Bukenya was accused of flouting procurement laws by influencing the award of a contract for the supply of luxury cars and police outrider motorcycles worth 9.4 billion Ugandan shillings ($3.6 million USD) ahead of a 2007 Commonwealth summit.
The contract was initially awarded to Spear Motors, a car dealership in the capital, Kampala, but was later cancelled and offered to another company.