Uganda parliament has imposed what appears to be a travel ban on Justine Bagyenda, the embattled former Bank of Uganda (BoU) Executive Director in charge of Supervision.
This was after Abdu Katuntu, the chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) asked the former ED to deposit her two passports ( the East African passport and the International) with Parliament until the probe is over.
“Your travelling caused us a bit of inconvenience but since you are now here, you have to make sure that you sit throughout the process and answer all the questions that we have for you,” Katuntu said.
COSASE is investigating BoU officials over the controversial closure of seven commercial banks.
Bagyenda is accused of conniving with her aides to reportedly steal key documents from BoU.
However, there was opposition from some members of the committee who say they do not trust Bagyenda even if she deposits her passports.
“I request that this committee keeps madam Justine Bagyenda until this probe has been finished. I cannot trust the submission of a passport because she can have more than one passport,” James Waluswaka the Bunyole West MP said.
However, the troubled Bagyenda promised her full cooperation with the committee but asked that her driver and aide who were arrested last week be released.
“I am ready to cooperate with the probe committee on bank closures, i however request that my driver and security guard be released as proceedings go on,” she said.
Last week, COSASE handed over two Bagyenda aides to Parliament Police CID for further investigations over suspected crucial documents stolen from the Central Bank.
The arrested Bagyenda aides are Juliet Adikolet (bodyguard) and Job Turyahebwa (driver).
COSASE also arrested, Charles Omoro and Beatrice Kyambadde, who manned the security of the Banking Supervision department after it emerged that the duo were found to have lied when taking oath about the movements of the items in question.
On November 22, Bagyenda notified COSASE of her impromptu trip outside the country amid an ongoing investigation into the closure of seven commercial banks.
The banks being investigated were closed between 1993 and 2016. They are; Teefe Bank, International Credit Bank Ltd, Greenland Bank, The Co-operative Bank, National Bank of Commerce, Global Trust Bank and Crane Bank Ltd (CBL).
