Kazinda's trial over illicit wealth starts

Kazinda at court. File Photo
 

Hearing of a case in which former principal accountant in prime minister's office, Geoffrey Kazinda is accused of illicit enrichment, starts today.

Justice Margaret Tibulya of the Anti- Corruption court will hear the case in which Kazinda is alleged to have illicitly amassed wealth.

Kazinda, 46, is also alleged by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to have amassed wealth estimated at sh4.6b which is not commensurate with his known income as the then 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  city suburb and land situated at Kyadondo Mengo West, Volume 213 , Folio  21, plot  2132 valued at sh3.1b

In another count, 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 and three former officials of ministry of finance are also accused of diverting sh21b, from Office of the Prime Minister.

Kazinda, and three co-accused Wilbert  Okello  principal  system analyst,David Mugisha  senior  economist  and  Bright Atwine, a  senior  accountant all former  officials from  ministry of finance are charged with diverting funds intended  for  the  Peace Recovery and Development  Plan for  Northern Uganda.

Prosecution led by senior principal state attorney Vincent Wagona and senior state attorney Tom Walugembe from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, said the three officials from Ministry of Finance together with Kazinda, between November 2011 and April2012 in Kampala respectively diverted funds meant for peace recovery.

He is facing other separate charges of embezzlement of sh316m before Justice Lawrence Gidudu at Anti- Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala 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 Ntinda1, between June 2010 and February 2011 conspired to defraud office of the prime minister of sh316m.