Bank of Uganda warns public against burying corpses with money
The Bank of Uganda has waded into an ongoing debate on whether tycoon Ivan Ssemwanga’s body should be exhumed and monies buried in grave recovered.
In a series of tweets posted on its official Twitter account, the bank – which is the Central Bank of Uganda – now suggests the currency buried alongside the flashy businessman is “now likely to be defaced, soiled or damaged, and thereby no longer able to serve the purpose for which it was intended”.
The bank has also warned the public to refrain from any act, conduct or use of shilling notes and coins for purposes other than those the national currency is intended, adding that it was in the process of amending the Bank of Uganda Act and include a clause that will criminalize the misuse of currency.
It has come to our notice that Uganda shilling notes were thrown into a grave during a recent burial ceremony.
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017
The money, which was so mishandled, is likely to be defaced, soiled or damaged, and thereby no longer serve the purpose for which it was….
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017
This statement comes after citizens separately filed suits at a Kampala court on Friday, seeking orders to exhume Ssemwanga’s body and remove the cash that was buried in his grave.
The law suits were filed by two “concerned” citizens, namely Abey Mgugu and Robert Ssenfuka before the High Court in Kampala.
Ssemwanga, 40, a former husband to socialite Zari Hassan, recently passed on at a South African hospital.
..the shilling deserves the status of a national symbol. This implies that our national currency should not be handled in a manner that is..
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017
..indecorous. Accordingly, the public is urged strongly to refrain from any act, conduct or use of shilling notes and coins for purposes…
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017
…other than those for which the national currency is intended; or in a manner that results in the defacing, soiling or damaging of the…
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017
It was during his burial however that drama unfolded.
Viral online videos showed members of Ssemwanga’s Rich Gang pouring champagne into his grave, whilst others shuffled several Uganda shillings notes into his grave amid shock from hundreds of mourners.
Uganda shilling currency notes and coins. Indeed, proposed amendments to the Bank of Uganda Act include a clause that will criminalize…
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017
…any practices such as defacing, soiling, mutilation or other forms of disrespect to the national currency. The public will be informed…
— Bank of Uganda (@BOU_Official) June 2, 2017