Judge to decide whether to step down from Kazinda case
Sep 15, 2016
Geoffrey Kazinda is alleged to have amassed wealth estimated at sh4.6b which is not commensurate with his known income as a civil servant
Justice Margaret Tibulya of the Anti- Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala, will tomorrow rule whether to step down from hearing a case against former, principal accountant in Prime Minister's office (OPM) Geoffrey Kazinda, over illicit wealth.
Tibulya notified Kazinda's lawyers Andrew Kasirye, Paul Rutisya and state attorney Mikkah Luteete from the Inspectorate of Government that she will deliver the ruling on Friday.
Kazinda on August 18th wrote to Justice Yorokamu Bamwine requesting that he should not be tried by justice Tibulya, saying if he is tried by Tibulya over illicit enrichment he would not get justice.
He argues that Tibulya has heard testimonies of several prosecution witnesses in a case in which he is accused of abuse of office and causing financial loss of sh20b to government adding that she will be biased if she also tried the case of illicit enrichment.
Kazinda, is currently in Luzira prison serving five years sentence after he was convicted in 2013 of abuse of office, forgery and being in unlawful possession of government stores.
Kazinda, 46, is alleged by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to have amassed wealth estimated at sh4.6b which is not commensurate with his known income as a civil servant.
The IGG said Kazinda's known income for the period between 2009 and 2012 was established to be sh83.7m.
It is alleged that Kazinda maintained luxurious standard of living when he rented and occupied Constellation Suits at Nakasero and apartments at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala for a period of ten months at sh210m.
Kazinda is also accused by IGG of being in possession of a house in Bukoto and land situated at Kyadondo Mengo West, Volume 213, Folio 21, Plot 2132 valued at sh3.1b.
Cpt. Juma Seiko greets Geoffrey Kazinda outside court. Photo by Meddie Musisi
In another charge,Kazinda is accused of being in possession of motor vehicles BMW, Mercedes Benz, Dodge Saloon car, Mercedes Benz ML Class estimated at sh769m. He denied the charges.
Other cases against Kazinda
Kazinda is facing other separate charges of embezzlement of sh316m before Justice Lawrence Gidudu at Anti- Corruption Court in Kololo, brought against him by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
Prosecution alleged that Kazinda, Beatrice Kezabu former assistant resettlement officer, Shamim Masembe businesswoman and Hussein Katumwa station manager of Total Service station Ntinda, between June 2010 and February 2011 conspired to defraud Office of the Prime Minister of sh316m.
Also in a separate case which is already fixed for hearing before Justice Tibulya of Anti- Corruption High Court, Kazinda is charged jointly with three former officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over diverting public fund amounting to a sh20b.
Wilbert Okello principal system analyst from ministry, David Mugisha senior economist and Bright Atwine a senior accountant all former officials from ministry of finance were charged with diverting funds intended for the Peace Recovery and Development plan for Northern Uganda.
They denied the charges.