The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court has given a former Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) employee, charged with the offence of receiving a bribe of shillings 10 million, the last adjournment to pursue his plea bargain.

Justice Lawrence Gidudu gave Rogers Kanzira up to January 29, 2024, to finalise the plea bargain negotiation or else the court will proceed with the trial.

Kanzira who is facing charges of bribery and abuse of office last year asked the court to halt his trial to enable him to pursue a plea bargain with URA.

Bosco Okiror, the lawyer representing Kanzira informed the court on January 8, 2024, that plea bargain negotiation is still ongoing and asked for more time to conclude the matter.

A plea bargain is an arrangement between the prosecution and the accused person in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser punishment.

It is alleged that Kanzira and others still at large on August 4, 2023, at Lugogo in Nakawa, while employed as a tax officer at URA, received a bribe of shillings 10 million.

The prosecution led by Davis Lomuria alleges that Kanzira received the bribe from a one Isaac Byarugaba in order to write a favourable tax report.

It is further alleged that being employed by a public body Kanzira committed an arbitrary act by soliciting a bribe.

Under Section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, any person found guilty of the offence of abuse of office is liable to seven years imprisonment upon conviction or a fine not exceeding sh1.3m or both.

Section (2) of the Anti-Corruption Act provides that any person found guilty of corruption charges is liable to 10 years imprisonment.