MPs vow to block Bagyenda reappointment to FIA board

Several Members of Parliament have vowed to block the reappointment of embattled former Bank of Uganda Executive Director in charge of commercial banks supervision Justine Bagyenda to the Financial Intelligence Authority board.

The group led by Mangiya county MP John Baptist Nambeshe said that it will be a betrayal to tax payers money for the parliamentary appointments committee to reappoint Bagyenda.

Bagyenda was in February this year, fired by the BOU governor Tumusiime Mutebile on the heels her account details leaking indicating she had Shs19 billion stashed away in three different banks.

A Whistle blower petitioned the IGG’s office, over Bagyenda’s wealth that wasn’t commensurate with her earnings. A list of 17 prime properties belonging to Bagyenda and her close relatives also leaked.

Bagyenda was the subject of several investigations including the IGG’s office and possible money laundering by the Financial Intelligence Authority.

In a surprising twist this May,  Finance minister Matia Kasaija wrote to Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga indicating the re-appointment of Bagyenda to the FIA board which caused uproar among MPs, who argued that someone subject to investigations cannot be a member of the board investigating her.

“She does not qualify to be reappointed to that committee and she is a Christian and according to the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible it states,  thee shall not steal and if she is a real Christian,  she should tell us where she got the money and I call upon the powers in Parliament to block her from appearing before the  appointments committee,” said Ngora County MP David Abala.

“You cannot confirm the appointment of Justine Bagyenda who has acquired wealth prematurely and we condemn her reappointment in the strongest terms possible and we call on the speaker to hear the cries of Ugandans because she will import her corruption tendencies to the Financial Intelligence Authority,” MP John Baptist Nambeshe said.

During a press conference, the legislators begged the appointments committee chaired by speaker Kadaga to investigate the relationship between the finance minister Matia Kasaija and Justine Bagyenda.

Hon. Mbwa Tekamwa Kasambya county argued,  “Minister Kasaija is not himself credible because all the times he has been at loggerheads with Parliament on the recently enacted mobile money act when he implied that it’s parliament who passed the 1percent taxes and l’m worried that he will play the same tricks  and deny that his not responsible for Bagyenda’ appointment “.

The FIA is the government agency mandated to monitor and investigate money laundering activities in the country.