By Wafula Malik
Triggered by Finance Intelligence Authority’s inconclusive inquiry into ex-BoU director Justine Bagyenda’s riches, the IGG Irene Mulyagonja is once again back trying to crack the whip on Central Bank officials. The IG publicist Ali Munira says at least 100 BoU officials are currently having their riches being inquired into to establish the veracity of their online declarations to Ombudsman for the year 2017. Media reports show those being verified include BoU Governor Emmanuel Mutebile, his Deputy Dr. Louis Kasekende and other officials which BoU Communications Director Charity Mugumya confirms to be many and each of them bears personal responsibility to be cooperative with the IG detectives. This, however, isn’t the first time Mulyagonja is rubbing elderly Mutebile’s BoU the wrong way. In February this very year, she threatened to crack the whip hard including arresting Mutebile after the Governor asked her to stop inquiring into his staff transfers because BoU’s independence was well protected both in practice and law. This was after she blocked Mutebile’s staff redeployments at BoU and even commenced investigations to establish whether the man from Kabale had procedurally acted properly. What saved Mutebile was the intervention of the President who called a meeting of both of them and asked IGG to let go on grounds that the resultant anxiety gripping BoU officials would hurt the economy which Mutebile & Co are paid to stabilize. It’s doubtable that Museveni, who already has many political issues to attend to including the Bobi Wine menace, will this time round find time to weigh and shield his old man Mutebile. In case this doesn’t happen, then Mutebile, Kasekende and other BoU bosses will be left at the mercy of the IGG who has wide-ranging powers under both the Constitution (Article 225 & 234) and the Leadership Code to do anything including sanctions that could potentially ruin people’s careers like her predecessors did with Ken Lukyamuzi years ago. The timing only makes things more complicated for the targeted BoU officials (in case any breaches are established against them) because Museveni, just like the IGG, is desperate to appease the angry public opinion by demonstrating that something is being done against those culpable for improper conduct. The only thing that could cripple IGG’s efforts is the absence of the Leadership Code Tribunal which is by law supposed to act and reprimand any public officials against whom any breaches are established.
KASEKENDE’S WORTH;
Available information so far discloses what Dr. Kasekende owns and how he accumulated these vast properties in consort with wife Edith Nansubuga, an HR consultant. These include Plot 3 Ggaba Close valued at Shs2.1bn; vast land in Lubowa estates valued at Shs2bn; Plot 12 Corporation Road Ntinda valued at Shs390m; Plot 2 Bukoto Rise Naguru valued at Shs1.3bn; Plot 2B Makindu Road in Kololo valued at Shs2bn and Plot 706 Buloba valued at Shs500m. The source of this wealth is disclosed as follows: BoU gratuity payments as well as those from his past employers African Development Bank, loans from DFCU, Standard Chartered Bank, rental income, salary, travel allowances and savings from research grants. The IG declaration document shows that Dr. Kasekende derives over $13,233 (roughly Shs52m) annually from his rental properties. He also has a farm in Bukasa (comprising of Plots 1041, 1738, 1423 & 1754 Block 314 Busiro Block) on which he grows Matooke and rears cows. Kasekende also owns a fleet of posh vehicles including a Mercedes ML Benz that was acquired at $42,000 (UAG 922E) and its value has since depreciated to Shs30m; another Mercedes S320 UAK 150Q valued at Shs20m and Toyota Hilux acquired at Shs19m. The leaked IG documents also disclose he has a shareholding in Greenhill holdings based in Kibuli Mbogo Road. He had 3489 shares as at 24th February 2011. The leaked documents also show that most of his properties are jointly owned with his wife Edith Nsubuga Kasekende who works as a Human Capital Consultant with Inspire Talent. He is also disclosed to own Plot 48 Kenneth Dale Drive Kira Road. The 15-page document also shows that Kasekende operates both dollar and local currency accounts with Standard Chartered, Stanbic & Barclays Banks in Kampala. A resident of Kololo-based Kawalya Kaggwa Road Plot 12, Kasekende discloses his annual salary to be netting to Shs559,848,000. He also annually pockets Shs162,098,748 in allowances accruing to him in his capacity as BoU deputy governor. The Daily Monitor reported today Thursday that this latest war between Mutebile and IGG is a manifestation of the resumption of intrigue that has for long been brewing inside BoU. For comments, reach us on 0703164755.
