The re-appointment of Justine Bagyenda, the former executive director Bank of Uganda, to the board of the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) has stirred controversy with some MPs questioning the wisdom of the move.
According to a letter dated May 7 Matia Kasaija, the minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development informed Rebecca Kadaga that Bagyenda is being re-appointed to the board of FIA.
She previously served on the board when she was still working in the central bank.
Yet FIA is investigating her following revelations of that she had stashed billions of shillings on different bank accounts.
Some MPs are now questioning the decision, saying Bagyenda’s reappointment should be revoked.
“I simply don’t get it. I don’t understand this impunity. The Appointments Committee must block it,” said Gerald Karuhanga, the Ntungamo Municipality MP.
Kumi Municipality MP Monica Amoding urged the public to petition the Appointments Committee over the matter.
Francis Mwijukye, the Buhweju MP and a member of the Appointments Committee, warned: “That is wrong. If they had wanted to re-appoint her to the Board, at least they should have waited for the outcome of the ongoing investigations. In my opinion, the appointment should be stayed until investigations into her conduct at Bank of Uganda are concluded.”
Kasaija has defended his decision to re-appoint Bagyenda.
“When I re-appointed her the issues of money laundering and others were not yet in the press, there is no way I could have re-appointed her with question marks surrounding her integrity,” Kasaija told Daily Monitor last week.
