Twisted Bribes at Entebbe International Airport

Bribes

By Drone Staff 

In 2017 I was sent to Kigo Prison when I jammed to give bribes at Entebbe International Airport. This is how it started and ended.

I had escorted some boys who came from upcountry and were going to Dubai. Fortunately, the boys had all the necessary documents, but their visas were not secured by local companies here in Uganda. They were privately secured by some Arabs in Dubai.

My role was to guide them through the airport because they were green; they came from Kabuyanda in Isingiro District. They  had never come to Kampala, neither had they gone to the airport. They needed my assistance.

The boys were asked to pay sh500,000 each because they possessed a Tourist visa, yet they did not look like tourists.  They were intercepted from the waiting lounge, where they had checked in, waiting for their flight. I was up in the hotel, waiting to wave at them as they walked to their flight, then I received a phone call from some security operatives. They asked me where I was and I told them. They immediately reached me.

The shameful security operatives told me to give them sh200,000 or else they intercept the boys. I was so shocked, but I told them to wait. They refused to wait and disappeared into the lounge and came out with the boys.

When I asked them pinning questions that is when they asked, ” You man, are you related to Kale Kayihura?”  I said no, “I am related to Jesus Christ.”  They roughed us into their pick-up truck to Airport Police Station. Good enough, the Airport Police Commandant, late Calleb Mwesgye was my OB at Makerere University. As soon as he saw me he told them that he cannot make his OB sleep in police cells. He called me into his office and told me that he was under pressure of corrupt officers and officials at the airport. He intimated to me that they were going to harrass and disturb me since they realized that I knew him. He told them to give me  police bond, which they did. However, they played games and timed when he was away; as I reported to police they had arranged their pick-up Truck, I was taken to court and thereafter to Kigo Prisons.

That is what happens when you refuse to give bribes. There are many operatives from various departments, they all want shere of bribes. They will always find a fault on a traveller. In case you are argumentative, they cause you miss a flight and re-booking is an extra cost. This is why you find travellers giving bribes. Entebbe Airport is a den of thugs. No help!