FDC cautions govt on Deputy Governor’s signature on currency notes

By Elizabeth Ankunda

28^th March 2023

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has warned the government over risks of having the Deputy Governor Dr. Michael Atingi- Ego being sued in constitutional court for bearing his signature on the currency notes.

Early this month, the Bank of Uganda confirmed that the signature and currency notes bearing Dr. Michael Atingi- Ego are genuine and he is performing his duties as Deputy Governor.

BoU said the newly printed and issued notes bearing the DG’s signature and 2022 as the year of print are in various denominations, though the 1,000 shilling note is so far the most widely-circulated.

In an interview, the FDC Deputy Spokesperson John Kikonyogo said that it is unconstitutional for the Deputy Governor to sign on the country’s legal tender yet he is not a substantive but an acting governor.

Kikonyogo adds that the Deputy Governor is likely to be sued by activists because he is still in an acting capacity yet the law bars the Acting Governor from signing on the legal tender without the authority of the Board of Bank of Uganda.

He however demands that President Museveni should come out and publicly explain as to why he has delayed to appoint the new Governor.

Governor Bank of Uganda Prof. Emmanuel Mutebile died last year in January at Nairobi hospital in Kenya where he was battling diabetes.