Three more government officials have been arrested by CID and other agencies investigating the alleged printing of Shs90 billion even though the governor of Bank of Uganda (BoU) insists no extra money was printed.
The latest arrests come as investigators led by the Uganda police detectives continue to hunt for individuals involved in causing the saga that saw private goods and parcels carried on a chartered plane used by BoU to deliver its consignment in April.
The chartered plane landed at Entebbe International Airport on April 27 and was cleared by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) customs department in the presence of BoU officials, BoU security, aviation security, police and other security agencies. However, it was reported that instead of the expected 20 pallets, the consignment had 25 pallets.
Yesterday the investigators arrested three Bank of Uganda (BoU) officials for of abuse of office and neglect of duty. The officials are Caroline Nankabirwa, from procurement department, Simon Peter Zaribugire from currency department and Milton Opio, director security.
Investigators from the Uganda police say investigation into the Bank of Uganda continue and will soon issue a new statement on the latest developments concerning the currency consignment saga in which a chartered plane delivered five crates alongside 20 pallets of BoU consignment.
“Our officers in partnership with other agencies are still doing the investigations and I promise we will soon issue a statement to clear rumours in the media,” an officer who is part of the team said on condition of anonymity as he is not allowed to talk to the media.
The officer said the investigations spearheaded by CID Director Grace Akullo have expanded countrywide to BoU regional currency centres of Kabale, Mbale and Fort Portal, after leads brought those centres into picture.
The detective explained that heads of BoU currency centres in the three regions are being interrogated on whether they had prior knowledge on the five extra pallets that were transported on the chartered plane, which had on board, newly printed Uganda Shilling notes.
The source said the CID team is also probing how and why the directors were transferred to regional currency centres from the head office in Kampala, prior to the arrival of the BoU consignment.
Available information indicates that the Central Bank sent its officials to pick printed cash overseas and alerted Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) about a consignment that required fast clearance.
Sources indicated that the head of Mbale currency centre who was abruptly called to witness the offloading of BoU consignment became suspicious of the extra pallets and briefed BoU Governor Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile.
But Tumusiime-Mutebile on Tuesday reiterated that there was no extra consignment containing printed money besides that which was officially sanctioned by the bank.
‘I simply said that it was an anomaly in the sense that the plane came along with 20 pallets and additionally five crates (that were not ours). The 20 pallets were consigned,” Mutebile said while reading the latest monetary policy statement, urging media to ignore rumours citing that there was extra money printed.
Mutebile’s comments come after government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo disowned an investigation by police in relation to the unfolding currency scandal at Bank of Uganda.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga told journalists yesterday that investigators were investigating allegations that additional money was printed and smuggled into the country. The figure that has been thrown about is Shs 90 billion.
But government through Ofwono Opondo, the executive director of Uganda Media Centre said they were not aware of any investigation regarding this money.
“I disagree with Fred Enanga’s statement about investigations in relation to the extra cargo of Shs 90 billion,” said Ofwono.
Opondo said government now wants Enanga to put the record straight.
“We are asking police to correct the statement [that there is an investigation over Shs 90 billion].”
Ofwono said government is investigating the extra boxes on the plane that contained equipment for testing blood.
Today parliament’s Committee on Commissions, State Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) quizzed top officials of the Civil Aviation Authority on the saga, with officials saying they had no role to play in the delivery of the currency consignment to BoU.
