Outrage as 12 BoU staff found guilty of age-cheating are retired, given hefty package

Controversy is brewing at Bank of Uganda after it was discovered that 12 staff who falsified their age were allowed to retire and given hefty benefits.

The twelve are: Odonga Ekuka Sophie (Currency Department), Enyasu Julius (Security), Mpora Adonia (Administrative Services), Olonga Fred (Non banking institutions department), Katamba Simon Patrick (Commercial banking), Kaitesi Stella Lubega (Statistics) and Wamurumba Peter Musai (Banking).

Others are; Auka Modesto; Director of the National Payment System Department, Semugga Stephen; Director Administrative Services, Oketcho Solomon; Executive Director of Administrative Services, Opio Patrick; Assistant Director Security and Rumanzi Peter Ivan; Assistant Director of the Petroleum Fund.

On November 16, 2019, the bank's Human Resource Director Dr. Jan Tibamwenda wrote to the deputy governor Dr Louis Kasekende, pointing out the anomaly after it had been discovered that the staff had falsified their age. Under the bank's administrative manual, such an act would lead to dismissal.

“Reference is made to the memo dated 12th November 2019. Your attention is drawn to sections 6.8.12, 6.8.14 of the Administration Manual (April 2018) regarding update of staff information.”

“I wish to further draw your attention to the Board Resolution No. 247 made 11th October 1999 which stated that staff shall not be permitted to change the age declared to the Bank at the time of entry.”

“The purpose of this Memo is to seek your approval for the above-mentioned staff to voluntarily retire rather than considering the Administrative Manual (April 2018) penalty recommendation under section 6.9.11 that calls for outright dismissal.”

The discrepancy in age was discovered after the bank’s management asked staff to submit copies of National IDs.

After scrutiny, 12 staff had different dates of birth from those submitted at their point of recruitment into the bank.

Sources told us that Kasekende told Tobamwenda that the board had resolved to retire the 12 staff with benefits as a way of amicably settling the matter.

Yet this is going to raise questions about the hefty package that was given to the dismissed staff.

We have been told that the Bank spent hundreds of millions of shillings on the employees who were supposed to be dismissed outrightly.