The Bank of Uganda (BOU) currency notes Saga is an item that has dominated the news agenda in the past week, further soiling the credibility of the Central Bank that was already rocked by the Parliamentary probe into the illegal closure and takeover of seven commercial banks.
The gap in communication between government agencies saw conflicting narratives with difference between events surrounding the saga fronted by the police spokesperson Mr.Fred Enaga and government spokesperson Mr.Ofwono Opondo.
Background
On June 2, BOU Governor Emmanuel Mutebile Tumusiime wrote to the Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema led State House Anti-Corruption unit, seeking investigations into unspecified anomalies in the delivery of consignment of BOU currency notes. Mr.Mutebile asked the State House Anti-Corruption unit to investigate an incident where a chartered UK airline carrying Uganda currency also carried private cargo of 13 extra bags alongside pallets of Uganda currency notes.
The chartered UK based KUEHNE+NAGEL cargo plane delivered the consignment of Uganda currency on April 27.The airfreight aircraft picked the consignments from Liege airport in Belgium.
Fred Enaga, Police spokesperson’s narrative
On Monday 17th June, Mr. Enaga addressing journalists told them that CID had taken over investigations to find out how extra cash was printed and sneaked into the country. Mr.Enaga claimed that police raids and searches of homes of six BOU senior officials recovered documents which suggested printing of extra currency notes.
Mr.Enaga further told journalists that the police had searched the homes of the suspects and recovered cash, which could be in excess of amounts BOU authorised to print. Mr.Enaga said, “The allegations against the suspects is that there was more money on the flight and that is why State House Anti-Corruption unit took interest in the matter.”
Government and BOU’s Narrative
Both government and BOU entirely dismissed police reports that extra money was discovered to have been printed and sneaked into the country.
On Tuesday 18th June, both BOU Governor Emmanuel Mutebile Tumusiime and Uganda Media Center Executive Director Mr.Ofwono Opondo addressing different press conferences said that no extra money was printed and the investigations are not on currency printing, but on illegal cargo found on the said chartered plane.
Mr.Opondo accused the police of “misinforming lies” and said the issue being investigated was exclusively the circumstances under which private cargo was transported on the chartered plane. The extra cargo belonged to 13 private businessmen, companies and international organizations and included equipment such as solar machines, batteries among others.
Lt. Col. Nakalema seconded the government narrative and insisted that her State House Anti-Corruption unit was investigating circumstances under which the extra cargo entered a plane fully chartered by BOU and not printed cash.
The State House Anti-Corruption unit and police arrested several BOU officials, officers from the Customs Department, airport police officers and Civil Aviation Authority staff to investigate an incident involving extra cargo on a BOU chartered plane which triggered suspicion of printed illegal currency.
Parliament pulled into the saga
The BOU currency saga pulled in other government organs like the parliament with Dokolo woman Member of Parliament Hon. Cecilia Ogwal during debate in the house preferring the Scotland Yard to investigate the scam. Hon. Ogwal reasoned that government investigation arms are too weak to be trusted with the faith further broken by the conflicting information coming from government agencies.
The speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga ordered the ministry of finance to conclusively explain the matter in one month.
The Parliament’s Committee on Commission, Statutory Authorities (COSASE) indicated it will summon all parties mentioned in the currency saga, with a view of commencing a full blown investigation.
Mr.David Bahati, minister of state for planning informed parliament that there was no extra currency printed.
Officials remanded to Luzira Prison
Mr. Francis Kaketo, the regional currency manager, Mbale and Mr. Fred Wanyama, assistant regional manager, Kabale were on Friday June, 21, charged with abuse of office and corruption before the magistrates court in Kololo presided over by Mr. Abert Asiimwe and remanded to Luzira Prison until June 26th when they will return to court. The two officials supervised the loading of the cargo.
Mr. Charles Malinga, director of currency operations at BOU will appear today before the Anti-Corruption court to answer charges related to illegal consignment that was shipped into Uganda in April.
