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Game Over: New Investment Authority Boss Basil Ajer installed

Friday June 29 2018

The leadership wrangles at Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) might have ended after the Authority's board installed the new acting Executive Director Basil Ajer.

A few minutes into five o’clock, the board, led by the chairman, Mr Emely Kugonza forcefully took over Ms Jolly Kamugira Kaaguhangire’s office after she was a no-show at a handover ceremony she had scheduled for 3 PM.

READ MORE: Suspended Investment Authority Boss Jolly Kaguhangire digs in, says she is going nowhere

Speaking to Journalists in the executive director’s office at the head offices, Mr Kugonza said the interim ED, Mr Basil Ajer, will commence his duties to ensure that work goes back to normalcy.

“I reiterate our commitment to supporting Mr Basil Ajer, the board appointed acting executive director who will be at the helm of the authority during the 3 month period of Ms Kaguhangire’s interdiction,” he said.

He asked the staff to continue working hard to fast-track ongoing investment projects as is the mandate of the authority.

However, he expressed skepticism when asked why Ms Kaguhangire did not show up to officially hand over office to Mr Ajer.

“The interdicted ED called me last night (June 28) and we had a lengthy discussion. She accepted and requested to be allowed to hand over at 3 which condition we all accepted. I communicated to all board members but when we got here, she did not show up. I had already informed the minister of finance of what was going to happen,” he said adding that: “Ms Kaguhangire had communicated that she had vacated office on Thursday”.

The former director in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) turned ED, Mr Ajer, said that he hoped staff were not divided and that harmony prevails in the authority, and that he is ready to work with them to take the authority back to normal.

When asked if the Minister of finance, Matia Kasaija, backed the decision, Mr Kugonza said the decision to interdict was the mandate of the board, supported by the policy and regulations of the authority.

RELATED STORY: Investment Authority boss Jolly Kaguhangire sent on forced leave

He, however, acknowledged that he spoke to the Minister and reached a consensus that the interdiction should be upheld, and that Kaguhangire should vacate office until the slated period of 3 months when the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) concludes her investigation.

Ms Kaguhangire could not be reached as she was not picking our calls.

ALSO READ: Whistleblower asks IGG to investigate Uganda Investment Authority

IN SUMMARY

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The leadership wrangles at Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) might have ended after the Authority's board installed the new acting Executive Director Basil Ajer.

A few minutes into five o’clock, the board, led by the chairman, Mr Emely Kugonza forcefully took over Ms Jolly Kamugira Kaaguhangire’s office after she was a no-show at a handover ceremony she had scheduled for 3 PM.

READ MORE: Suspended Investment Authority Boss Jolly Kaguhangire digs in, says she is going nowhere

Speaking to Journalists in the executive director’s office at the head offices, Mr Kugonza said the interim ED, Mr Basil Ajer, will commence his duties to ensure that work goes back to normalcy.

“I reiterate our commitment to supporting Mr Basil Ajer, the board appointed acting executive director who will be at the helm of the authority during the 3 month period of Ms Kaguhangire’s interdiction,” he said.

He asked the staff to continue working hard to fast-track ongoing investment projects as is the mandate of the authority.

However, he expressed skepticism when asked why Ms Kaguhangire did not show up to officially hand over office to Mr Ajer.

“The interdicted ED called me last night (June 28) and we had a lengthy discussion. She accepted and requested to be allowed to hand over at 3 which condition we all accepted. I communicated to all board members but when we got here, she did not show up. I had already informed the minister of finance of what was going to happen,” he said adding that: “Ms Kaguhangire had communicated that she had vacated office on Thursday”.

The former director in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) turned ED, Mr Ajer, said that he hoped staff were not divided and that harmony prevails in the authority, and that he is ready to work with them to take the authority back to normal.

When asked if the Minister of finance, Matia Kasaija, backed the decision, Mr Kugonza said the decision to interdict was the mandate of the board, supported by the policy and regulations of the authority.

RELATED STORY: Investment Authority boss Jolly Kaguhangire sent on forced leave

He, however, acknowledged that he spoke to the Minister and reached a consensus that the interdiction should be upheld, and that Kaguhangire should vacate office until the slated period of 3 months when the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) concludes her investigation.

Ms Kaguhangire could not be reached as she was not picking our calls.

ALSO READ: Whistleblower asks IGG to investigate Uganda Investment Authority

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