Bank of Uganda top officials are panicking after the Parliamentary committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) yesterday decided to launch an investigation into their wealth, some of it suspected to have been obtained through the controversial sale of seven commercial banks, which Cosase is probing.

The BoU Deputy Governor Dr.Louis Kasekende is to be investigated by a special sub-committee after Aruu South County MP Odonga Otto yesterday presented documents showing 72 land titles of prime plots in Kampala and Wakiso said to be owned by him and members of his family and his driver Moses Musitwa.

MP Otto also tabled declaration forms indicating that Kasekende submitted to the Inspector General of Government (IGG) only six properties during the assets declaration before the ombudsman, thus violating the Leadership Code Act 2002.
Otto also tabled bank statements detailing the transfer of US $1 million (about Shs3.7 billion ) to Ms Edith Kasekende’s account by a Chinese firm, Shs1.9 billion from MMAKS Advocates and US $71,000 (Shs262 million) that was wired to Kasekende’s account by Tororo District Local Government.
“What is of interest to me is the transfer of US$1 million to Ms Edith Kasekende’s account by China Railway Group,” Otto said adding that China Railway Group is the company constructed the BoU currency centre and that the committee should pick interest.

He said some of the properties are linked to a finding by the Auditor General John Muwanga’s report, saying BoU officials sold assets worth Shs164 billion of five closed commercial banks at a discount of 80 per cent yielding only Shs32 billion. “These people were closing banks to enrich themselves. The public has to know the motivation of some people to close banks. The Ministry of Lands authenticated the documents by giving a search certificate detailing that these 16 properties are in your names,” Otto told Kasekende.

A sub-committee chaired by Bukedea District Woman MP Anita Among, army MP Brig Francis Takirwa and Kiruhura District Woman MP Sheila Mwine will investigate the land titles and present a report on Tuesday next week to guide on the way forward.

Meanwhile MP Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County) also tabled seven land titles belonging to former director for commercial banks supervision Justine Bagyenda in prime areas in Central and Nakawa divisions in Kampala.

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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.

However, sources dealing with this matter say nil value of properties was indicated on the transfer form from, raising questions how the properties could be registered with such anomaly.

On the consent to transfer form dated February 1, 2018 indicates that a consideration of Shs3 million was indicated as the value for all the 12 properties.

The document also shows Kasekende owns seven plots of land in; Makindu Lane, Buloba (4 plots), Bokoto Rise and Lower Naguru East Road. The document also shows his brother Herman Kasekende also owns six plots in Nama, Birongo, Lukuli (2 plots), Munyonyo and Kisugu.

It further shows other individuals also owning land; Martin Kasekende with land in Kiruddu, Kyambogo View Street. It also shows Harriet L. Kasekende owning plot 990 Kiwatule, Mengo, George Kasekende with land at Mpererwe, Barbara Kahubire also has at Munyonyo. The document also shows businessman Karim Hirj on plot 990 at Munyonyo.

Recently Eagle Online published an article on properties that Kasekende did not declare to the IGG.

The plots Kasekende that were never declared are; Plot 38 (0.157 hectares) in Lower Naguru on East road worth Shs1.280 billion, Plot 1423 on block 314 in Buloba worth Shs432 million.

Others whose value is not quoted are; Plot 1738 (0.809 hectares), Plot 3213 (0.079 hectares), plot 1427 (3.647 hectares), plot 184 (2.7 hectares), plot 1754 (1.624 hectares) and plot 6102 (0.317 hectares). All the plots are on block 314 in Buloba.

Meanwhile Kasekende was able to declare five properties. They include; Plot 2A (0.142 Hectares) in Makindu worth Shs3.6 billion, Plot 2 (0.22 Hectares) on Bukoto Rise worth Shs2.7 billion, Block 314, plot 706, Plot 1475 Lubowa Estate worth Shs3.6 billion and Plot 12 on Corporation Road Ntinda.

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