Uganda: Basajjabalaba Summoned by Parliament Over UGX 140 Billion Bank of Uganda Guarantee

The Ugandan Parliament has set September 23, 2026, for the appearance of businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, who has been ordered to explain a disputed UGX 140 billion guarantee granted by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) in 2017. According to a statement issued by the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, the parliamentary committee COSASE, chaired by Kyandondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, made this decision following Basajjabalaba's failure to attend the hearing on Wednesday, September 16. His lawyer, Calvin Ojambo (from Magina Advocates), pleaded a late summons received on September 15 and an unavailable client, requesting a postponement to September 23 or 24 to gather documents related to transactions carried out between 2009 and 2011, which were already the subject of previous disputes. MP Martin Kisule (Buzaaya County) expressed surprise that the summons went through a law firm rather than being served directly to Basajjabalaba. The new subpoena will be delivered by a police officer. "At this stage, this is a level of investigation," Nkunyingi specified, adding that the committee will examine the role of all parties, including Basajjabalaba's Haba Group and the BoU itself, before drawing conclusions on the fate of public funds. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the guaranteed 140 billion shillings have been recovered and will clarify the central bank's responsibilities in this case.