UIA Executive Director forced out of office over irregularities

By Waswa Tenywa

Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Executive Director, Jolly Kaguhangire has been interdicted by Authority’s board of directors over abuse of office.

The board, sitting on its 51st meeting yesterday, June 26 in the UIA boardroom, resolved to interdict Kaguhangire for a period of three months starting yesterday June 26.

Kaguhangire was interdicted on grounds of abuse of office, insubordination, misleading and lying to the board, non compliance with implementation of the strategic plan, closure of office (NAMANVE OFFICE) without authorization from the board, serious corruption allegations made against her by UIA staff among others.

In a letter signed by Dr. Emely Kugonza, chairman UIA board of directors, Kaguhangire has been ordered to hand over office to Basil Ajer, director of SME and STI who has been entrusted to take over the authority’s supreme office.

The board has also appointed a select committee to investigate the grounds of Kaguhangire’s interdiction. The interdiction comes just days after UIA staff petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG) against Kaguhangire, accusing her of ‘high level tribalism’, mismanagement, corruption, favouristism among other accusations.

The authority staff who petitioned the IGG alleged that she has recruited ‘westerners’ as her personal assistant, executive assistant, and administrative assistant and all the drivers. They further allege that these are paid enormous salaries contrary that salary scales of the Authority.

Kaguhangire was appointed last year in April, months after the UIA board declined to renew Dr Frank Sebbowa’s contract after a whistle-blower alleged that he was involved in nepotistic tendencies, which saw many of his kith and kin recruited into the Authority.

Prior to her appointment as UIA head, Kaguhangire had worked with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for 24 years, rising to the position of head of service management, where, she oversaw a number of innovations like the Integrated Tax Administration System as well as the Taxpayer Register Expansion Project.