Kazinda's sh6.6b illicit enrichment case flops

The hearing of a case in which former principal accountant in the office of the Prime Minister Geoffrey Kazinda is accused of illicit enrichment of up to sh4.6b flopped after his lawyer was reported to be having an examination.

When the case came up for further hearing on Tuesday, Kazinda's lawyer Ernest Kalibala asked court to adjourn the case on grounds that he had an examination, according to reliable sources from court.

But, when Kalibala was approached by New Vision, he declined to reveal the reason as to why he asked for an adjournment. The case was adjourned to August 7 by Justice Margaret Tibulya, the Anti-Corruption Court judge

Meanwhile, Inspectorate of Government (IGG) prosecutor Sarah Birungi had come along with witness Paul Lwanga, the credit manager of Sheraton Hotel to testify against Kazinda.

IGG accuses Kazinda of amassing wealth estimated at 4.6b shillings which is not commensurate with his known income as a civil servant. According to IGG, his known income during the time from 2009 to 2012 was estimated at sh83.7 million.

Court documents further state that the accused maintained a luxurious lifestyle with a house in the city suburbs of Bukoto and land in Mengo worth sh3.1b.

Kazinda was convicted for abuse of office, forgery and unlawful possession of government stores in 2013.

Kazinda is currently in Luzira Prison after he was convicted by the Anti-Corruption Court of abuse of office, forgery and making documents without authority in 2013.

He was also convicted of unlawful possession of government stores and sentenced to five years in jail.

According to the IGG, Kazinda's known income for the period between 2009 and 2012 was established to be sh83.7m.

Prosecution led by IGG director of legal affairs Sarah Birungi, said Kazinda maintained a luxurious standard of living when he rented and occupied Constellation Suites in Nakasero and apartments at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala for a period of ten months at sh210m.

Kazinda is also accused by the IGG of being in possession of a house in Bukoto a city suburb and land situated at Kyadondo, Mengo West, Volume 213, Folio 21, plot 2132 valued at sh3.1b.

In the third 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 charge.

In a separate case which is ongoing 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 funds to the tune of sh20b.

Wilbert Okello a principal system analyst, David Mugisha a senior economist and Bright Atwine a senior accountant were charged with diverting funds intended for the Peace Recovery and Development plan for Northern Uganda.