Youth pressure group, Youth Power Research Uganda (YPRU) has given the Office of the Inspector of Government (IGG) up to two days to produce a report on the alleged illicit undeclared wealth of Justine Bagyenda, the former Bank of Uganda Executive Director-Supervision.
Through their lawyers Nsubuga K S& Co Advocates, YPRU says IGG’s failure to produce the report in question “will attract legal proceedings against you at your own peril, detriment and obvious public embarrassment.”
It should be noted that the pressure group on 9th June 2018 wrote to the IGG, Lady Justice, Irene Mulyagonja requesting for an investigation into Bagyenda’s alleged illicit undeclared wealth as a public officer.
“The same issue was publicly raised in the newspapers, radios and television stations as it was a matter of public concern where your office had to act expeditiously in investigation of the same and come up with a report as you had promised, but all was in vain,” a letter by Nsubuga K S& Co Advocates dated March18, 2019 reads in part.
It adds: “To our client’s surprise neither the same report nor an investigation has to date ever been done and/or published despite your constitutional and statutory mandate and promises to our client. Instead, our client’s representatives were arrested on charges of blackmail and threatening violence which were (sic) initiated by a compliant raised by you following their efforts to follow up the correspondences they had sent to you and no response nor action was being taken.”
They add that it is crystal clear that the IGG has been reluctant, neglected and/or deliberately ignored carrying out investigations into Bagyenda’s alleged “illicit acquired wealth as it a known fact and the same is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that Mrs. Bagyenda Justine is your close associate and close friend.”
“Your actions amount to impunity and an abuse of public code of conduct and professional ethics. Take note that your actions are not only malicious and breach of constitutional and legal duty but also have caused a lot of confusion in society, anxiety and mistrust of your office to our client,” the letter intending to sue adds.
It is worth noting that the same pressure group on July3, 2018 requested an investigation report of the involvement of Bagyenda in the dissolution of Crane Bank Ltd and other banks, but the IGG said she didn’t have the mandate to do so as the matter was already in court and before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
IGG Responds
In a media interview, Mulyagonja (in featured photo) said the report is not givable to everyone.
“That report is not givable to just anyone. The law specifies who it’s to be given to. Since they are lawyers they should go and read the act and find out who it’s be given to.”
She added that her office isn’t “scared of any suit.”
