Bagyenda Dropped, Replaced as FIA Board Member

By Max Patrick Ocaido

The embattled former Executive Director in charge of Bank Supervision at Bank of Uganda, Justine Bagyenda, has been dropped and replaced as Board Member of Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA).

Bagyenda who is embroiled in the controversies surrounding the closure of 7 defunct commercial banks has been dropped and replaced by former BoU lawyer, Titus Wasswa Mulindwa.

The Appointments committee chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on Monday successfully vetted and approved Mulindwa as new FIA board member, according to an inside source.

FIA is a government agency established by the Parliament of Uganda to monitor, investigate, and prevent money laundering in the country. Bagyenda has been serving as FIA Board member and on May 2018, Finance minister Matia Kasaija re-appointed her to the board amidst investigations from Inspector General of Government (IGG) over allegations of illicit accumulation of wealth. Among others who were appointed to the FIA board include; Leo Kibirago (Chairperson), Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Patrick Ocailap, Patrica Mutesi and CIID boss, Grace Akullo.

On September 17, 2018, Parliament successfully vetted and approved the new FIA board with exception of Bagyenda who snubbed the meeting following several petitions to the Speaker protesting her re-appointment. Bagyenda’s rejection prompted ministry of Finance to make a U-turn on her appointment and thus, replacing her with Titus Mulindwa.

According to a source who attended the vetting session, MPs asked Mulindwa why he did not offer good legal advice to Bagyenda at the time when she flouted laws during the closure of commercial banks. In response, Mulindwa reportedly told the Appointments committee that his boss (Bagyenda) was too powerful to heed to any legal advice from him and others.

Meanwhile, the appointments committee also vetted and approved the board members of National Planning Authority. The new board members include; Prof. Pamela Kasabiti Mbabazi who is the new chairperson replacing Kisamba Mugerwa. Mbabazi will be deputized by Prof Sam Obwoya Kinyera is replaces Dr Abel John Julian Rwendeire who died in 2017. Other board members are; Prof. Enos Kiremire, Dr. Ivan Lule and Lydia Wanyoto.