Court issues warrant of arrest for UDB CEO

By Edward Anyoli

ANTI-CORRUPTION  Court  Chief  Magistrate  has  issued  a warrant  of arrest  for  chief executive  officer  of  Uganda  Development  Bank.

Sarah Langa Siu on Friday ordered the arrest of Patricia Ojangole for failure to appear in court to answer charges of conflict of interest.

Prosecution led by director of legal affairs Sydney Asubo from Inspectorate of Government told court that they failed to trace her prompting prosecution to seek a warrant.

“We  have  not been  able  to trace the accused,  I pray  for warrant  of  arrest for  her,” Asubo  said.

Prosecution  alleged  that  Ojangole  while  employed as  the  chief internal auditor  and later  as  the acting  chief executive  officer  of  Uganda  Development  Bank Limited  dealt  with  a matter   in which she  had  a personal  interests   and which she was in a position to  influence  recruitment   for  the position  of  the  chief executive  officer  which was advertised on  October 8, 2012.

Prosecution  said by participating  in  various  processes  and  proceedings  that  made  her to be appointed  to the position of  the chief  executive  on  November 30, 2012  when she signed the contract but knowingly  failed  to  disclose her  interest  amounted   to an  offence of  conflict of  interests under section 9(1)  and (2) (a)  of  the Anti-  Corruption  Act.

“You are  hereby commanded  by the government  of  Uganda to arrest   the said  Patricia  Ojangole and  bring  her  before honorable court as soon as  practical,” the  warrant reads in part.

Ojangole  is  facing  a  separate  charges of victimizing  a whistleblower which   is  schedule to start on February10 before  Justice  Lawrence  Gidudu of the Anti- Corruption  Court.

Prosecution  alleges that , Ojangole  being  the  chief executive officer  and chairperson  of  executive committee  of Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL), a public liability company  owned  by the Government  of  Uganda  victimized a whistle-blower, Charlotte Kazoora Mucunguzi for  making  a  disclosure to the Uganda  police and  Inspectorate  of  Government  about the improper  manner  in which the board and management  of UDBL were handling $11.5m  loan.

Kazoora Mucunguzi was allegedly victimised for disclosing to the Inspectorate alleged irregularities by the bank in handling a huge loan application by Savannah Commodities Ltd.                  

She was subsequently (Kazoora) dismissed by a decision taken at the bank’s extra ordinary executive management meeting held on January24, 2013 .The Inspectorate said the victimisation 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).