Former VP in Uganda Charged With Corruption

Posted June 16th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
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Uganda's former vice president has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in a Kampala court.

Gilbert Bukenya told the court Thursday that the charges are “absolutely not true.” He was freed on $20,000 bail.

Bukenya is accused of making millions of dollars by inflating rental prices paid for vehicles used to transport visiting heads of state during a 2007 Commonwealth summit.

He is the only high-level official charged with corruption despite several others being implicated in the scandal. Supporters have said he is being selectively prosecuted.

Bukenya was Uganda's vice president for eight years before being dismissed by President Yoweri Museveni in May as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr. Museveni has ruled Uganda since seizing power in a 1986 coup.