By Sylivia Kugonza

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabarole

Rampant corruption and lack of practical democracy have dominated the National Dialogue in Kabarole district.

Kabarole was among the five districts selected to pilot the Uganda National Dialogue aimed at sharing views on “The Uganda We Want” and it was convened at Kabarole district headquarters Kitumba on Wednesday.

Margaret Kihika the vice chairperson Kabarole faulted government for promoting corruption in judiciary saying the public has lost hope plus trust in judiciary and police.

She said that the judges, magistrates, lawyers and the police are implicated in soliciting bribes from the poor but government has remained silent about it.

Kihika explained that the kingdoms and other cultural institutions that were restored by the government have not done much in instilling cultural norms, values that promote integrity.

Charles Manyindo, the chairperson elderly persons Kabarole doubted Uganda’s future generation looking at the government encouraging cultivation of marijuana and failure to implement the pornographic law to handle indecency.

Kibirango Haruna chairperson DP Kabarole noted that there is no democracy in Uganda where arrogant political party leaders appoint leaders of their choice instead of elections.

However, Kabarole RDC Stephen Asiimwe attributed the rampant corruption to the parents, teachers and detoriating cultural norms.

He said that the teachers cheating exams for pupils from primary to university are promoting corruption and when they get jobs, they are already champions of corruption.

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By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante

 www.mknewslink.com

In Bushenyi

The Bushenyi Resident District Commission Jolly Tibemanya has revealed that the MP for Kasambya County in Mubende district Gaffa Embwa Tekamwa will be allowed to hold meetings in Igara West only when he is cleared by the police (IGP).

RDC Tibemanya said that, “This is according to the resolution of the district security committee.”

The RDC said this today 15^th August 2019 at his office in an exclusive interview with www.mknewslink.com managing Editor.

Embwa Tekamwa told www.mknewslink.com at parliament on Tuesday this week that it’s a mandatory he will contest for Igara west parliamentary seat and defeat the MP Raphael Magyezi.

The RDC added that Embwa Tekamwa will be subjected to Public order Management act regulations such that he gets clearance from the IGP as other people do.

Embwa Tekamwa through his agents on Tuesday this week handed over a new ambulance to Bitooma health centre III catholic founded health facility in Igara West.

The ambulance which was brought three weeks ago kept people talking and analyzing the two MPs Magyezi and Embwa Tekamwa politically.

Speaking to www.mknewslink.com magyezi said that Embwa Tekamwa is breaking rules of Parliamentary cutesy of informing a colleague whose constituency he is visiting.

Magyezi said that he is happy with people of Kasambya for donating an ambulance to the people of Igara West adding that if they have more ambulances and other things, they should bring them.  

The MPs Embwa Tekamwa and Magyezi are relatives and come from the same village Gongo,Kyamuhunga town council Igara West Bushenyi district.

Embwa Tekamwa is a nephew to a popular pan-Africanist Keihura Nkuba aka Dr.Rwacumika Nkamuhayo proprietor of Great African radio, now working with Akandwanaho Caleb aka Salim Saleh a brother to the president.

MP Magyezi is well known for the age limit bill that he sponsored which resulted into an act that removed age limit from 75 years to infinity for one to run for president of Uganda.   

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By our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Kampala

Bank of Uganda (BoU) closed seven commercial banks during the period 1993 to 2016, mainly on account of undercapitalization.

But it was the closure of Crane Bank Limited (CBL) and its subsequent sale in January 2017 that would trigger an audit of BoU on closure of the same defunct banks whose owners now want financial compensation.

However, the controversial sale of CBL at only Shs200 billion to Dfcu bank was the highlight of the processes where BoU closed and sold off assets of the seven banks. CBL sale led to job losses, resignations, transfers and reputation damage, to mention but just a few, in regards to BoU, Dfcu bank and law firms such as MMKAS Advocates,   AF Mpanga, Advocates and Sebalu & Lule Advocates.

The closure of CBL particularly affected certain individuals in BoU, Dfcu bank and the law firms in many ways that have changed public perception about them:

Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile was first appointed BoU Governor on January 1, 2001. In his tenures he has had issues with Members of Parliament where at one point; the MPs thought he had undermined their legislative role of oversight when he said he only fears God and President Museveni.

But the closure of CBL on October 20, 2016 will always remain the day to remember for Tumusiime-Mutebile as long as he lives. First he assured the public and the media that no employee of former CBL would lose their jobs as he transferred it to Dfcu bank. That assurance never came to pass as a Dfcu bank started laying off the employees a few months after taking over its former rival. Former employees would later drag BoU and Dfcu bank to court for compensation. And that portrayed Tumusiime-Mutebile as a person who could not be trusted.

An established economist and BoU Deputy Governor, Kasekende was expected to replace his boss Tumusiime-Mutebile who has a few months to retire. Now analysts close to the appointing authority say the anticipated promotion is unlikely to happen. This is because Kasekende and Tumusiime-Mutebile are majorly blamed for the mess in the closure of CBL and other banks. The two are accused of failing to supervise their juniors during the processes to close CBL and other banks.

Insiders say it is unlikely Kasekende will even remain in that capacity as Deputy Governor following the recent report that revealed that he and Tumusiime-Mutebile were leading cliques of staff in the performance of official duties.

Justine Bagyenda, now enjoying her retirement, was the BoU executive director, bank supervision who played a big role in the closure of CBL. But her boss Tumusiime-Mutebile would later fire her as scandals in the closure of CBL kept emerging. She would rush to the IGG for help but not much was done for her as Tumusiime-Mutebile and IGG Justice Irene Mulyagonja went public bashing each other over Bagyenda’s sacking. She was replaced by Dr. Tumubweinee Twinemanzi who Tumusiime-Mutebile picked from Uganda Communications Commission, even though a recent report said he didn’t have any banking experience prior to being appointed to that job.

At the time of the closure and sale of CBL, Ben Sekabira, the current BoU Director Financial Markets Development Coordination, was director commercial banking and played a huge role in the sale of CBL as he worked hand in hand with his boss Bagyenda. He had hoped to succeed Bagyenda but his hopes were dashed away after CBL sale scandals emerged. He would later reveal during COSASE that CBL only needed Shs150 billion to remain afloat much as BoU injected Shs478 billion in the bank during receivership. Interestingly, Dfcu bank would post Shs114 billion for the first half 2017, up from Shs23 billion in the same period of the year 2016. The sharp increase was largely attributed to acquisition of CBL assets.

On the Dfcu bank side, the controversial acquisition of CBL created instabilities in its operational processes as shareholders disagreed on how that business was acquired. That would lead to the resignation of former MD Juma Kisaame following a series of revelations that showed he didn’t handle CBL transactions in the best way. He was replaced by Mathias Katamba on January 2, 2019.

Further, Agnes Tibayeyita Isharaza who had been serving as Dfcu’s Chief Legal officer and company secretary resigned and joined the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Jimmy Mugerwa, the former Managing Director of Tullow Oil Uganda who was days ago recalled to Tullow Oil plc headquarters in London, was also the Chairman of Dfcu bank and as such participated in the controversial acquisition of CBL in 2017. However, negative media reports on that transaction threatened the image of Tullow Oil plc, given that Mugerwa’s name in the local press kept emerging as CBL sale scandals continued. The solution was to recall Mugerwa to London and was replaced by Mariam Nampeera Mbowa who now is expected to look after the company’s interests in Uganda’s oil & gas sector, as it negotiates a farm down of its discovered oil blocks with the government of Uganda.

Conflicted law firms of MMAKS Advocates MMKAS Advocates, AF Mpanga, Advocates and Sebalu & Lule Advocates were exposed.

The three Kampala law firms were exposed and ordered by court not to ever represent any side in cases involving the Ruparelia Group, the three firms having worked for the same company. It should be noted that MMKAS Advocates were also hired by BoU as transaction advisors in the sale of CBL whereas Sebalu & Lule Advocates are accused of misguiding Dfcu bank in the transfer of Meera Investment Limited.’s leasehold properties that CBL was using as banking halls.

The affected names aside, watchers are wondering whether the controversial closure of CBL has become a curse that is now haunting key players in the transaction now expected to be battled in court between CBL shareholders and BoU which is demanding about Shs397 billion from CBL shareholders who also want BoU to compensate them about Shs28 billion.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106