Uganda Investment Authority boss Jolly Kaguhangire sent on forced leave

Uganda Investments Authority (UIA) Ms Jolly Kaguhangire. FILE PHOTO

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In March, she embarked on a restructuring process that sent home five directors and is likely to affect a number of lower cadre jobs.

Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director, Ms Jolly Kaguhangire has been interdicted by Authority's Board of Directors.
Ms Kaguhangire was ordered by the Board chairperson Emely Kugonza to stay out of office for a period of three months during which period the Board chairman says Mr Basil Ajer, a director in charge of SMEs will be the acting executive director.

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IGG petitioned to probe Uganda Investment Authority boss

The petitioners want the IGG to investigate Ms Jolly Kaguhangire over corruption, misuse of funds and wrongful termination of staff, among others.

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Mr Kugonza's letter interdicting Ms Kaguhangire lists a litany of allegations against her, and they include; Abuse of office, insubordination, misleading and lying to the board, defying the ministry of Finance and corruption, among others.

He also notes that a committee will be instituted to investigate the allegations against Ms Kaguhangire.
Ms Kaguhangire has been the subject of numerous whistleblowers reports in different tabloids, and the decision by the board appears to be a culmination of this.
This comes just days after the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Irene Mulyagonja received two letters petitioning her to investigate Ms Kaguhangire over abuse of office, possession of firearms by some workers and corruption, among others.
In the letters, the petitioners also accuse Ms Kaguhangire of wrongfully using her powers to manipulate the board in regard to the ongoing restructuring process that started in February.

“In an attempt to discredit UIA staff and management, the ED [executive director] embarked on a smear campaign through online platforms. Through her PA [personal assistant] she started leaking false information about UIA. She used this method to manipulate the board into agreeing with her that a restructuring was very necessary.
“It is a textbook technique in change management that for stakeholders to recognise the need for change, the change champion creates a sense of urgency by painting a worse picture than reality,” the petition reads in part.

IGG spokesperson, Ms Munira Ali, confirmed receipt of the petitions but said it was too early to determine the course of action.
Intimidating the board
The petitioners, who signed off the letters as staff of UIA, also accuse Ms Kaguhangire of intimidating the board chairman through an investigation by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), which resulted into the arrest of UIA’s director lands division on account of selling murram and sand illegally.
She is also accused of ignoring advice and attempting to withdraw land from investors, which has exposed the investment agency to litigation and possible loss of money.

Ms Kaguhangire, was appointed UIA executive director in April last year, replacing Dr Frank Ssebowa whose term expired in 2016.
In March, she embarked on a restructuring process that sent home five directors and is likely to affect a number of lower cadre jobs.
In a telephone interview at the weekend, Ms Kaguhangire told Daily Monitor the petitioners are ill-minded people trying to divert attention from her achievements that have propelled growth in the investment sector.

“It is not UIA staff, it is just some people who want to fight me. If it were them, it would have showed that it was official. It is a malicious letter. We are doing a restructuring and people do not like it. So they take advantage [by playing emotional games],” she said.