Two officials of Uganda Development Bank (UDB) accused of victimizing a whistleblower over sh28b have survived prosecution.
Sydney Asubo, the director of legal affairs from Inspectorate of Government (IGG) Thursday said the Inspectorate decided to drop charges against Francis Ojede, the bank’s director of human resource and administration and Juliet Nagawa Luggya, the company secretary.
The two had been summoned on July 29, to appear before Buganda Road Court and answer charges of victimizing a whistleblower. The prosecution said Nagawa and Ojede will be turned into state witnesses.
Asubo told the Buganda Road Court Magistrate Julius Borore that the Inspectorate would not proceed with charges against the two but Patricia Ojangole, chief executive officer, Andrew Mulubya director management information officer and Daniel Kaggwa director finance will be prosecuted as charged.
Three are alleged to have victimized Charlotte Kazoora Mucunguzi for disclosing to the inspectorate alleged irregularities by the bank in handling a huge loan application by Savannah Commodities Ltd. Savannah Commodities is owned by Hannington Karuhanga.
Mucunguzi was dismissed by a decision taken at the bank’s extra ordinary executive management meeting held on January24. The Inspectorate said the victimization was contrary to provision of the Whistleblowers Act, particularly section 16 and 9 of the Act.
Section16 stipulates the penalty for victimization, which is imprisonment not exceeding five years upon conviction or fine not exceeding 120 currency points (sh2.4m) .
By Edward Anyoli, The New Vision
