By Ruth Anderah
The Central Bank has presented a written defence in Court against accusations that it never took any legal action against members of the Rich Gang Team, a group best known for the flamboyant lifestyle of its members.
The group was created by deceased South African businessman Ivan Ssemwanga.
At Semwanga’s burial in Kamuli district recently, the group reportedly threw an unspecified amount of money of different currencies in his grave, before and after the casket was lowered.
In Its defence filed at the Civil Division of the High Court, Bank of Uganda says it cannot take any legal action against these youths because the Penal Code Act only criminalizes the melting down, breaking up, defacing of silver coins and not paper notes.
however the Central Bank says it executed its duty to protect the legal tender by making proposals to amend the Bank of Uganda Act to include a clause which also criminalizes the misuse of currency notes or the issuance of an informative notice to the public on the 2nd/June 2017 strongly cautioning on the misuse of currency notes other than for the purposes it’s intended for.
The Central Bank has now asked court to clear it of any wrong doing and dismiss the case with costs.
The case was filed by a concerned citizen Robert Ssenfuka, who accuses Bank of Uganda of neglecting its legal mandate.
