the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL) was yesterday charged with conflict of interest and remanded to Luzira prison. Patricia Omongole was charged before the Anti-Corruption Court Principal Magistrate, Dorothy Lwanga. She denied the charge.

Prosecution led by Director of Legal Affairs, Sydney Asubo, from the Inspectorate of Government (IG) alleged that Ojangole, while employed as the chief internal auditor and later as the acting chief executive officer of UDBL, dealt with a matter in which she had personal interests relating to the recruitment of the chief executive officer.

Asubo said by participating in various processes and proceedings that made Ojangole to be appointed chief executive officer on November 30, 2012, she committed an offence of conflict of interest under section 9(1) and (2) (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Any person found guilty of conflict of interest under the Anti-Corruption Court Act is liable to up to 12 years imprisonment or a fine amounting to shs 100m. Ojangole, for whom a warrant of arrest has been issued, presented herself before the court following a warrant that was issued last week.

Asubo opposed the bail application, saying the accused had been using her position to interfere with witnesses

Ojangole is facing a separate charge of victimising a whistle-blower, which is scheduled to start on February 13 before Justice Lawrence Gidudu of the Anti-Corruption Court.

The board of directors of UDB, yesterday issued a statement in defence of Ojangole, arguing that "the believes the CEO acted within the confines of the bank' stipulated policies and will continue to cooperate with the authorities in this case.