Police chief under IGG probe over illicit wealth

Kampala. The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is investigating the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Godfrey Bangirana, for alleged corruption.
The IGG, Ms Justice Irene Mulyagonja, confirmed the investigations into Mr Bangirana’s questionable wealth and said the investigations arose from a whistleblower’s petition to her office in September.
It is alleged Mr Bangirana’s wealth is a mismatch with his salary and other known earnings because of corruption and influencing procurement deals.
“Our investigations are ongoing. Issues related to corruption need thoroughness because the evidence we gather is presented in courts of law,” Ms Mulyagonja said told Daily Monitor by telephone on Sunday.
She said the first phase of the investigations was concluded in November but the law bars her from divulging details at this stage.
The IGG said Mr Bangirana, a director of Logistics and Engineering in the Uganda Police, will be prosecuted if there is credible evidence to the allegations.
A whistleblower alleged that Mr Bangirana had caused accumulation of debts in excess of Shs100b in the police arising from goods and service the suppliers provided and presided over supply of police fuel to private individuals causing a financial loss of Shs200b to the force.

Other allegations
It is also alleged that he is one of the richest Ugandans with properties in Nairobi, Dubai, South Africa and Uganda which were illicitly acquired.
He is also accused of inflating the cost of Katumba Birungi School in Wakiso and Bwebajja Senior Staff and Command College.
“Bangirana inflated the cost of repair of police helicopters causing a loss of Shs10b. Bangirana claims Shs100b was used in the construction of Nateete Police Station, which is an inflated cost,” the petition to the IGG reads in part.
When contacted yesterday, Mr Bangirana admitted he had heard about the IGG inquiries, adding that it was no news. “Those things have been in the newspapers for long. Ignore. I am in a meeting,” he said and hang up.
Mr Bangirana’s prolonged investigation led to another petition to the President against Ms Mulyagonja wondering why the IGG had not concluded the investigations.
Asked whether the petition had reached the President, his press secretary Don Wanyama said: “I can’t confirm if the President has received this petition yet. On what the President makes of the allegations, I guess that can only be known once he has received the petition and perhaps conducted investigations. It is premature at this time.”