What happened to the custodian board seal?

PARLIAMENT

KAMPALA - When former Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) executive secretary Bernard Tumwesigire appeared before a subcommittee of the Parliamentary Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Tuesday, he handed over a stamp instead of a seal.

The COSASE subcommittee chaired by Ibrahim Kasozi (Makindye East) is looking into reports of irregular administration of properties of the departed Asians.

Kasozi is the COSASE vice-chairperson.

Tumwesigire told the lawmakers why he had presented a stamp instead of a seal.

"When [finance minister Matia] Kasaija resigned in 1993 to contest for politics, he did not hand over the company seal. Ask him to produce it."

Kasaija once held the position of the DAPCB executive secretary. Currently, he is the custodian board's chair.

The COSASE team had directed the CID Police to arrest Tumwesigire to recover the seal, only for him to later make an appearance before the committee, carrying along a stamp and documents.

Bernard Tumwesigire presented a stamp instead of a seal

Typically, a seal has an individual design stamped into it, and is attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity. 

Tumwesigire was appointed as the board's executive secretary in 2009 and his contract was terminated in 2017. But it is understood he has never handed over the all-important seal, claiming Government had yet to clear his salary arrears amounting to sh1.37b.

Minister Kasaija insists Government does not owe Tumwesigire any money.

He said he terminated Tumwesigire's services due to several issues, including, reportedly, threatening staff.

Ruhinda County MP Dononzio Kahonda said the committee will investigate who has the custodian board seal.

Following Tumwesigire's explanation to the committee, that he had been using a DAPCB  stamp  given to him since his appointment in 2009, the committee is expected to probe Kasaija over the missing seal.

In case a company seal falls in the hands of corrupt officials, they could use it to endorse DAPCB fraudulently, thus causing financial loss to the Government.