By Andrew Irumba
KAMPALA: The Governor of the Bank of Uganda Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile has confirmed the institution is under investigation as earlier said by the Head of the Anti-corruption Unit of State House, Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema.
Governor Mutebile released a press statement on Friday confirming the uncertain scenarios saying: “On April 27, 2019, the Bank of Uganda (BoU) received a consignment. During the verification process, BoU staff reported an anomaly in the inventory of the expected consignment. Therefore I requested the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of State House to investigate the matter. The AUC has started investigations and Bank of Uganda is fully cooperating with the process.”
He said Bank of Uganda was working with other authorities to conclude the investigations. “Bank of Uganda assures the public that we are committed to maintaining the integrity of its operations and are working with the relevant authorities to bring this matter to its logic conclusion,” he says.
Shortly after the raid, Nakalema issued a statement saying thus: “The State House Anti-Corruption Unit acting under Article 99(4) of the Constitution of Uganda in liaison with the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Police acting under Article 120(3) (a) and in conjunction with the Bank of Uganda is carrying out a special investigation on a matter pertaining to the Bank’s procurement and supply chain activities. This investigation is being carried out following an invitation by the Governor of the Bank of Uganda and in close cooperation with the Governor’s office. The matter under investigation involves a recent procurement consignment. A number of senior bank personnel, Customs and Civil Aviation personnel are being questioned. Bank of Uganda operations remain intact and uninterrupted. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
However, according to interrogators, the airplane authority came out first and apologized acknowledging that they had been duped by the two officials to load extra cash and items despite the clearance from the German authorities. It is at this time that Director Malinga who had been on leave got involved because his name had been dragged in, accordingly, Mr. Malinga is said to have informed the Governor Emmanuel Mutebile about the incident and thereafter, the two agreed to brief the President and State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
Spy Uganda learnt that BoU team a few months ago traveled to Germany aboard a chartered airplane to bring back the printed cash from Germany, where the Ugandan shilling is printed. The team was led by Dr. Barenzi, the deputy director in charge of operations who represented Charles Malinga Akol, BoU’s Executive Director Operations. Dr. Barenzi and another officer allegedly printed money to a tune of Shs90bn in excesses and used some of it to buy goods which were as well loaded into the chartered plane. At Entebbe, two officials stashed the Shs90bn into their own vehicles and drove to BoU. The directors are now detained at CMI headquarters in Mbuya and reports indicate that a lot of money was recovered at one of the directors’ homes.
