Finance Minister Matia Kasaija has said he is ready to withdrawal the nomination of Ms. Justine Bagyenda to serve on the board of the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) should Parliament decline to vet her as stipulated by the law.
Months ago, Kasaija nominated Ms Bagyenda who was the Executive Director Supervision at Bank of Uganda (BOU) to serve a second term on the FIA board despite ongoing investigations against her for alleged illicit enrichment.
Sections of the public including the civil society and politicians did not support Kasaija’s nomination of Bagyenda because she was and is still a subject of investigation by the FIA and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) for alleged money laundering.
Yesterday legislators under the African Parliamentary Network (APN) against Corruption said in a statement that Ms Bagyenda doesn’t deserve to serve on the FIA board because of the controversies surrounding her.
The investigations became paramount after a whistle blower leaked her bank account details showing she had over Shs19billion in three different banks and 17 properties in prime areas.
Last month MPs queried why minister Kasaija had nominated Bagyenda on the FIA board well knowing she was under investigation and had been fired from her position by BOU Governor Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile who replaced her with Dr. Tumubweine Twinemanzi.
Kasaija now says he will listen to the directive of Parliament on the matter.
“I proposed her name to Parliament. It’s up to Parliament now to tell me what to do, because if I took a decision it would mean I’m prejudging Ms Bagyenda,” he said, adding; “I cannot appoint until Parliament has given me the authority to do so.”