Is Kasekende recommending Kagugube for Mutebile’s job?
The struggle to replace bank of Uganda Governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile is tense with reports indicate that Deputy Governor Dr. Louis Kasekende is now backing Centenary bank’s Simon Kagugube to replace his boss.
Mutebile’s contract runs out next year and given his health status, he is likely not going to take another shot and this directly would leave his deputy in position to run BoU. However, the latest is that given the ongoing investigation on Bank of Uganda by Parliament’s committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase), hopes of Kasekende succeeding Mutebile are zero because his name has been heavily tainted in the scandal. And that is why, he has reportedly zeroed on Kagugube who hails from Buganda like him.
Eagle Online has been informed that among the names being fronted for Mutebile’s job include that of Kagugube and that lobbying has intensified on religious and tribal grounds given that the top considerations are a key in most appointments in Uganda.
Kasekende is under probe by Inspectorate of Government and on October 18, 2018, the IGG wrote to Kasekende informing him of the decision to verify his assets, which she said was according to the Leadership Code Act, 2002.
“Mr. Victor Acidri, a Senior Principal Inspectorate Officer and Ms. Doreen Tusiime, an Inspectorate officer, have been authorized to conduct the verification exercise and obtain information in respect of this matter,” read part of the letter.
According to the leaked document, Kasekende’s properties, 20 in number, range from medium to high class residential establishments enjoying the special amenities that come with their strategic location within the proximity of the city centre.
The document shows that Kasekende owns plots of land in Lukuli Makindye (2), Makandwa, Sentema and Bira (2), each measuring below an acre.
The IGG asked Kasekende to cooperate with the officers as they seek to establish the truth. Kasekende and other top officials at BoU are currently in the spotlight as parliament’s Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) quizzing them over the controversial liquidation and sale of seven commercial banks. Some of the officials are alleged to have benefited from the deals.
A leaked document shows that The Bank of Uganda (BoU) deputy governor Dr. Louis Kasekende transferred 12 plots of land into the names of his driver Moses Musitwa in an effort to dodge the scrutiny of the Inspector General of Government (IGG).
The IGG among other mechanisms used the Leadership Code Act 2002, to catch senior public officials who may have involved in corruption to grow wealth. The officials are required by the Act to declare their properties for purposes of accountability and transparency.
According to the document, Dr. Kasekende transferred the properties to the names of his driver on January 31, 2018.
The document says Kasekende has 35 properties in his names yet he only declared to IGG six properties.
The leaked documents show that much as Kasekende transferred the properties into names his driver Musitwa, there is no evidence to show that the deputy governor sold the plots to the latter.
The plots are located in Busiro on Block 314. They are plots No. 6090, 6091, 6092, 6093, 6094, 6095, 6096, 6097, 6098, 6099, 6100 and 6101. The plots range from 0.0450-0.0590 hectares.
Aruu County South legislator, Odonga Otto last year tabled what he referred as evidence against Dr. Kasekende in COSASE but in his response to the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Kasekende has denied all the allegations saying most of what was table by Otto are manipulated bank statements and land titles meant to tarnish his name.