Following revelations that the Financial Intelligence Authority was reluctant to investigate former Bank of Uganda Executive Director (Supervision), Justine Bagyenda, over possible money laundering, an advocacy group; Youth Power Uganda, has written to Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to prevail upon the body to take action.
A whistle blower in March leaked Bagyenda’s bank account details indicating she had several billion shillings that were not commensurate with her earnings. The whistle blower also questioned Bagyenda’s banking practices which included sending money to accounts of people termed as her “errand boys”. The whistle blower said these actions were tantamount to money laundering. Barclays Bank and Diamond Trust Bank issued public apologies to Bagyenda over leakage of her account details, a move that confirmed the details of her accounts were genuine.
“Some government agencies haven’t lived up to the expectations of Ugandans as regards investigating some Bank of Uganda officials who are believed to have accumulated illicit wealth, which led to collapse of our banks like Crane Bank which used to employ many youths,” YOPRU’s Mathius Ssempala wrote in a letter copied to President Yoweri Museveni and Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament.
“A case in point is during March this year, when a whistle blower petitioned FIA to monitor and investigate Miss Justine Bagyenda, former Director Supervision BoU for having Shs19billion on three different accounts which is not in tandem with her salary of six years as a director at the bank, even after two months after petitioning, there is not a single draft report made, hence casting fear amongst anti-corruption crusaders to think that Mr (Sydney) Asubo, the Executive Director of FIA is no longer competent for the job,” Ssempala wrote.
The youth group commended Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga who ordered the Auditor General’s office to audit BoU over the controversial Crane Bank sale.
The youths want the PM’s office to prevail upon FIA for investigations to go on. They say this will increase investor confidence in the Ugandan economy, which will in turn benefit youths who will get employment.
“Many stakeholders like youths want culprits punished if there was collusion syndicate to profit from the sale…. We do not want any stone left unturned.” Ssempala wrote.
The Prime Minister’s office acknowledged receipt of the letter on Wednesday.