MP calls for protection of staff who leaked Bagyenda's account details
Elijah Okupa, the Kasilo county MP yesterday implored the speaker and parliament to protect the employee of Diamond Trust Bank who allegedly leaked the account details of Justine Bagyenda, the former executive director of Bank of Uganda in charge of supervision.
Rising on a matter of national importance, Okupa told Parliament that the unidentified staff had been reportedly sacked yet there is a law that protects whistleblowers.
"Hon Speaker we have a whistleblower's act which protects people who reveal information which may help us curb corruption in public institutions. This person should be protected," Okupa said.
Okupa said because of the revelations, Uganda Revenue Authority was able to start investigations into the tax liabilities of Bagyenda.
A non-compliance report from URA that leaked last week showed that Bagyenda could have evaded property tax to the tune of Shs 7 billion. The tax body is said to be investigating the matter.
The deputy speaker, Jacob Oulanyah however ruled this was a private matter and parliament's hands could be tied.
On March 8, Diamond Trust Bank issued unreserved apologies to Bagyenda, the outgoing executive director of supervision at the Bank of Uganda.
Justine Bagyenda
“Management carried out an extensive investigation and established that one of the staff was compromised to access Ms Bagyenda’s account in the bank’s system. Confidential details relating to the accounts were leaked to outsiders and apparently used to create grossly distorted allegations about Ms Bagyenda’s alleged account balances,” a statement issued by the bank read.
“The bank wishes to unreservedly apologise to Mrs. Justice Bagyenda for the inconvenience and embarrassment that this regrettable incident has caused to her."
