The recent interviews conducted by Bank of Uganda last week on June 15 to fill over 40 Banking Officer positions was marred with cases of corruption and nepotism.
According to the investigations done by Eagle Online, four Bank officials at the level of director influenced the process by sneaking names of their relatives and friends.
These directors are from Human Resource, Directorate of Strategy and Quality Assurance, office of ED Audit and Advisor to the Governor.
One of the directors is in the Human Resource department who reportedly got money to help a candidate by the name of Lowena Musiime and is likely going to get a job.
This director got to know the candidate through his sister a one Naome who is a friend of the candidate’s mother. “There was a lot of influence peddling and nepotism,” the source said.
One of the directors whose first name is David brought in his daughter and the other whose name is Jacob brought his son. Another one called Prisca was also involved.
On March 18, 2024, the Bank ran an advert for 40 banking officers who must physically deliver their application letters to the headquarters of the institution in Kampala by April 2, 2024.
According to the advert, those above 26 years were ineligible to apply. The bank wants candidates with qualifications in the fields of finance, accounting, statistics, commerce, business administration, law, public relations, and IT among others.
Last month, a whistleblower posted on social media and said: “I work in BoU headquarters and I just wanted to let you know those BoU jobs they have posted about bank officers were taken already last month and contracts are to be signed this month.
Adding “I am wondering why they are advertising yet we all know the roles were taken. I was shocked to see a minimum age of 26 yet some fellows are older than 26 and got the jobs. If you are going to ask me about interviews, they were closed interviews. No one knows how those roles were taken, but if you think I am lying, ask one of your colleagues to apply and see if they will even be contacted.”
After the post, Eagle Online contacted BoU for comment over the allegations above, Dr. Kenneth Egese, the Director Communication but denied the accusation saying they are baseless.
“The Bank of Uganda emphasizes fairness and transparency, and we urge the public to ignore the false claims. All 40 advertised positions are open, and eligible candidates are encouraged to apply” Dr. Egese said.
Meanwhile other people who have analysed the BoU job advert say it does not favour applicants who live upcountry since they are required to deliver the applications to the headquarters in Kampala.
“We have BoU currency centres in major cities such as Mbale, Mbarara, Jinja and others. Why can’t the Central Bank receive applications at these currency centres so that applicants from upcountry don’t incur transport and other costs related to travelling to Kampala. Why can’t applicants be allowed to use emails? There is something not right in this advert.”
During the reign of the late Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile BoU’s currency and banking departures were involved in scandal that tarnished the image of the institution. However, if we are to go by the BoU insider’s allegations, then its human resource department could bring another scandal to the institution that currently has no governor after the death of Tumusiime-Mutebile but is led by Deputy Governor Michael Atingi-Ego who replaced Dr Louis Kasekende, who among other former BoU staff was at the centre of the controversial closure and sale of some commercial banks.
BoU has never recovered from this scandal especially Crane Bank whose shareholders have drugged both BoU and Dfcu bank to court here and in London for the illegal transaction that has seen some of the properties of Meera Investment returned to owners.
