By Our Reporter
City lawyer David F.K. Mpanga, who is a long serving legal advisor at Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s Mengo establishment, is in trouble because of his involvement in the scandals dogging Bank of Uganda.
Spy Uganda has learnt that South Africa based law firm Bowmans has reportedly summoned Mpanga, who is one of their associates, to explain whether he still represents Bank of Uganda despite a High Court ruling banning him from doing the same or not.
It is said that Bowmans, which operates in S. Africa, Egypt and other African countries decided to issue the summons after some sections in the media reported that information on its website indicated that Mpanga was still an advisor of Bank of Uganda, which Bowmans claimed was wrong and a misrepresentation.
However, sources reveal that when queried about the matter, Mpanga said he advised Bank of Uganda in its recent takeover of a financial institution, which was Crane Bank.
Mpanga lists the above role among his relevant experiences published on Bowmans website which is widely viewed/read across the globe.
Legal practitioners argue that this definitely adds weight to Mpanga’s CV and any client in need of a lawyer with a wealthy experience in financial affairs would choose him without knowing his ‘littered’ past, along with having misguided the Central Bank through Crane Bank (under receivership) into suing businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, a case they lost and are now set pay Sudhir over Shs70Bn in damages and legal costs.
Business analysts however wonder why Mpanga as experienced as he is, was part of the legal officers who drafted a bad case that left a legal gap and huge financial loss for BoU.
Further Mpanga together with his associate Masembe were last year dropped by Bank of Uganda as their legal representatives after Court ruled they had conflict of interest, having earlier on been employed by tycoon Sudhir.
Sudhir Ruparelia who formerly owned Crane Bank dragged the duo to court because they had worked for him and his companies and before crossing over to BoU and turning against him, which made them guilty of conflict of interest.
The High Court Commercial division concurred with Sudhir and ordered BoU to drop the two lawyers from its legal team.
Against that background BoU last year in November hired a new law firm Sebalu and Lule advocates to replace Mpanga and company.
Therefore, Mpanga would be lying to the public and Bowman firm that he still represents Bank of Uganda.
“The recent ruling in the Commercial Court also shows he rendered incompetent advice to Bank of Uganda, because he of all people should have known that a Receiver under FIA 2004 cannot sue. Because of his bad advice Bank of Uganda/tax payer will now be stuck with a huge legal bill,” an official in Bank of Uganda who preferred anonymity said.
He added that ; “Bowmans should urgently edit Mpangas profile and stop misleading people.”
This is because Mpanga’s actions contravene the regulations of Bowmans which state that “Bowmans spares no effort in striving to conduct business in a responsible, ethical and sustainable manner. Honesty, integrity and fair dealings are central to our engagement with our clients and other stakeholders.”
