By Mubiru Ivan
The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) has on Monday kicked off the investigation into the wealth of Bank of Uganda Deputy Governor Louis Kasekende and former Director in charge of Supervision, Justine Bagyenda.
The probe is being led by Bukedea Woman Member of Parliament Anita Among. She is assisted by UPDF Member of Parliament Brig. Francis Takirwa and Kiruhura Woman Member of Parliament Sheila Mwine.
The committee of inquiry is expected to present its report findings next week on Tuesday.
Recently, Aruu South County legislator Odonga Otto tabled before the committee, documents detailing 72 titles of prime plots of land owned by the Deputy Governor in Kampala and Wakiso, arguing that he had only declared to the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) only six properties.
Also Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa presented seven land titles saying they belonged to Ms Bagyenda in Central and Nakawa divisions in Kampala.
In October this year, the Inspector General of Government (IGG) started an investigation into the wealth of 100 BoU top officials including Kasekende , his boss, Tumusiime Mutebile and Bagyenda among others.
In his declaration of income, assets and liabilities form to the IGG, Kasekende revealed that he garnered his wealth through savings from research grants, salary, travel allowances, mutually agreed separation allowance from AfDB, pension BoU and AfDB as well as a disturbance allowance by Bank of Uganda.
In the same form, Kasekende, who was reappointed deputy governor on January 18, 2015, also lists rental income as another source of wealth, citing five properties in upscale Gaba, Lubowa, Ntinda, Naguru and Kololo valued at Shs2.1b, Shs1.4b, Shs0.39b, Shs1.3b and Shs2b. These, he declares, bring in a monthly fee of USD13,233 (Shs52m).
On top of that, Kasekende has a residential house worth Shs0.5b as well as a farm valued at Shs500m and Greenhill Academy (jointly owned with his wife Edith Kasekende) among other multi-billion assets.
On the other hand, in February, a whistleblower petitioned the IGG claiming that Bagyenda has accumulated more than Shs 19 billion within a space of two years. The money, the whistleblower claimed has been put on bank accounts in various commercial banks that included Diamond Trust Bank and Barclays Bank.
She is also linked to 17 properties in central and western Uganda worth several billions. Bagyenda was supposed to declare her wealth to the IGG last December but she never did.
Under the Leadership Code Act ,a person is supposed to declare his or her wealth within three months after becoming a leader and thereafter every two years.
