IGG to Sell off Kazinda’s Bukoto Flats

‎The Inspectorate of Government has opted for a multifaceted approach in the bid to recover funds from government officials found liable for causing loss of public funds.‎‎

‎These include funds that officials fail to account for and assets like buildings. These assets either cannot be well explained or are deemed not to have been declared under the Leadership Code Act, which requires an officer to declare all their wealth.

‎After the assets and liabilities have been declared, the IGG may take a critical look at the declarations and determine whether they match their incomes or whether there is any further information omitted regarding their wealth.‎

‎‎Disagreements between the Inspectorate’s findings and the owner of the assets may be settled through a court process where the IG seeks legal enforcement to recover lost funds.

The IG and the suspect may alternatively opt for a negotiated settlement where the officer agrees to refund cash or forfeit an asset to the IG.‎
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‎A total of 17 properties have recently been recovered from corrupt public officials, and the Chief Government Valuer  (CGV) is currently undertaking their valuation, which he says will take one month.‎

‎This was during a site visit led by the IGG, Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, to a property in Bukoto formerly owned by Geoffrey Kazinda, a former principal accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister.‎

‎Kazinda was convicted of the offence of illicit enrichment in 2020, after he was found to be maintaining a standard of living beyond his means.

He was convicted and sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment on three counts, which are currently running consecutively, making it 15 years’ imprisonment. The court further issued confiscation orders for Kazinda’s properties (land, building, and 4 luxury cars), valued at UGX 4 billion. These are to be forfeited to the state.

‎The Bukoto property is one of the 17 properties currently undergoing valuation for purposes of disposal.

‎‎The IG seized the property worth UGX 7 million in monthly rent, which is now paid into the Inspectorate’s accounts at the Bank of Uganda. This was after the unnamed owner, a former staff member of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

‎Kyondo says the full amount recovered and the value of the forfeited properties is not yet determined till after the valuation report.

‎The IG says that this move upholds the institution’s strong commitment to the elimination of corruption through the asset tracing and financial profiling strategy.

‎Under the asset tracing and financial profiling strategy, the IGG seeks to identify and seize illicitly acquired properties to recover public funds stolen by public officials.