KAMPALA – Post Bank has moved to replace its top managers who were recently charged with abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud the bank following a raid by the State House anti-corruption unit.
On Tuesday, Post Bank appointed Mr Edwin Keronga as the acting Managing Director and Mr Benon Rukundo as the acting Executive Director.
Mr Keronga replaced Mr Stephen Mukweli, the managing director, who alongside seven other staff, were last week charged in the Kololo-based Anti-Corruption Court.
In a Tuesday statement issued by Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, the new team is meant to ensure a smooth running of the bank.
“Following the investigations into some members of staff of Post Bank (U) Limited by the Directorate of criminal investigations and crime intelligence department and office of the Auditor General, and their subsequent arraignment in court, Post Bank has effected some changes to its senior management,” the statement reads in part.
“An interim team of senior managers headed by Mr Keronga and Mr Rukundo, and supported by a number of acting heads of department were appointed to run the affairs of the bank. The Bank of Uganda assures Post Bank customers and the general public that Post Bank is safe, strong and resilient and all of its services are continuing uninterrupted,” the statement adds.
The suspended bank staff include Ms Safina Wabuna, the executive director for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr David Mwesige, the head of Information Technology, Mr Augustine Kisitu, the head of Business Technology and Mr Emmanuel Mwaka, the finance manager.
Others are Alex Kayaayo (Executive Director for Credit and Business Growth), Fred Samuel Wasike (Head of Business Growth) and Gilbert Nuwamanya (Sales Manager).
In one of the cases, the state contends that in April 2017, Mukweli and Wabuna irregularly altered the sum of contracts for conducting ICT test from Shs20.2m to Shs37m contrary to procurement procedures.
It is further stated that their action resulted into overpayment of Shs16.75m to Aptech Computer Education knowing or having reason to believe that the acts would cause financial loss to Post Bank.
It is also alleged that on October 16, 2017, in Kampala, Mr Mukweli abused his authority by arbitrarily signing a contract for the supply of e-suit banking system to Compulynx Uganda Limited for more than Shs5.7 billion instead of Shs4.2 billion that had been approved by the Contracts Committee.