MPs Pile Pressure on Kasaija to Rescind Bagyenda’s FIA Appointment

Legislators under the African Parliamentary Network against Corruption have accused the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija for irregularly re-appointing the former Director of Supervision for Commercial Banks at Bank of Uganda to the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA).

Bagyenda was reappointed to the Authority by the Minister and was due to appear before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee Chaired by the Speaker on Monday which didn’t happen.

The team of 35 legislators led by Manjia County MP, John Baptist Nambeshe and Kumi municipality MP Silas Aogon told the media at Parliament that they are disappointed by the Ministry of Finance for maintaining Bagyenda’s reappointment despite investigations that are against her.

Bagyenda is currently under investigations by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), URA and the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) over abuse of office and illegally amassing huge wealth.

Nambeshe said that such a person whose character is being questioned should not be vetted by the committee until the investigating authorities have cleared her.

“In section 25 (4) of the Anti-money Laundering Act, you cannot reappoint a person who is seen to have moral turpitude like Ms. Bagyenda having amassed wealth primitively,” Nambeshe said.

Aogon noted that they are worried that the Ministry officials might be behind Bagyenda’s reappointment as well as conniving with her to disadvantage Ugandans.

“The silence by the Ministry of Finance despite us pushing them to reveal why Bagyenda was reappointed creates a lot of suspicion,” Aogon said.

He added that, “Why on earth would someone who is under investigations and whose record is tainted be appointed to a board that fights money laundering?”

Nambeshe further warned that Bagyenda should not make a mistake of appearing before the committee even at a later date because members are ready to block her.

“She was lucky that she didn’t appear today, we the 35 legisltors were ready to protest her appointment and we would do verything possible to block her which includes pushing her out of Parliament.”

The legislators advised the Ministry of Finance to drop Bagyenda’s reappointment with immediate effect.