MPs Want Bagyenda’s Reappointment to FIA Board Blocked

Legislators led by Manjiya County MP, John Baptist Nambeshe, Ngora county MP David Abala and Kasambya County MP, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa have called upon Parliament to block the re-appointment of former Bank of Uganda Director, Justine Bagyenda from serving at the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) board.

Bagyenda a former Supervisor of Commercial Banks at the Bank of Uganda is currently under investigations by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) for abuse of office and illegal acquisition of wealth.

Bagyenda’s reappointment to the board by the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija has left legislators wondering why a decision would be taken by him well knowing that she is still under investigations.

Addressing the media at Parliament, the MPs noted that Bagyenda should be dropped from the board until a final verdict is given on the investigations.

“We are against Mrs. Bagyenda’s reappointment to this position on grounds that she was sent into early retirement by Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile recently and she used her position to amass wealth as her leaked bank accounts indicate she has close to Shs20bn,” said Nambeshe.

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 Mrs. Bagyenda having amassed wealth primitively,” Nambeshe said.

The Kasambya county MP, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa has urged the appointments committee not to entertain Bagyenda even though the minister recommended her for re-appointment saying that Minister Kasaija has on many occasions denied authoring several documents.

“Members who sit on the appointments committee are hereby requested to delete the name of Justine Bagyenda because we are not even certain that Muhakanizi will own his letter to the Speaker over her re-appointment,” Mbatekamwa said.