Kazinda pinned over sh223m from OPM

By Edward Anyoli     

A sum of h223m that was allegedly paid from Prime Minister’s Office to new Caltex Ntinda was refunded to former principal accountant, Geoffrey Kazinda, court has heard.

Detective Cherry Mbabazi has told court that during investigation, she interrogated Hussein Katumwa, the managing director of teh fueling station who revealed that the money was refunded to Kazinda


Mbabazi said according to Katumwa, the money was withdrawn from dfcu bank and given to Kazinda in June 2010.

She was testifying as prosecution witness against Kazinda, Beatrice Kezabu assistant resettlement officer, Shamim Masembe businesswoman and Hussein Katumwa station manager of Total service station Ntinda1.

She testified that she established that Kezabu initiated a requisition for sh316,893, 456 and submitted it to Kazinda claiming it was accountability for transport.

Mbabazi said of the sh316m allegedly paid to the account of Total service station in dfcu bank, it was later withdrawn in three installments in June, 2010.

Mbabazi said she also obtained signature samples of Kazinda, Kezabu and drivers from OPM to ascertain who signed the order forms for fuel.

She explained that during investigations, she established that several order forms and invoices claiming that vehicles from OPM drew fuel from Total Ntinda service station yet the vehicles did not belong to OPM.

Mbabazi on Thursday told the Anti- Corruption Court presided over by Justice Lawrence Gidudu that 700 litres of fuel were taken with claims that it was authorised by OPM

Mbabazi told court that she also obtained statement from Salim Sebyala, a driver from OPM, who denied   having got fuel from Total Ntinda service station.

Mbabazi testified that Sebyala denied signing for fuel saying he was surprised when police questioned him about his signature which appeared on the invoices.

Prosecution led by senior  state  attorney  David Bisamunyu  alleged that  Kazinda, Kezabu, Masembe and Katumwa  between June 2010 and February 2011 conspired  to defraud office of the prime minister of sh316,893,456.

On charges of embezzlement, prosecution said Kazinda and Kezabu while employed as principal accountant and assistant resettlement officer respectively in Prime’s office stole sh316m.

Prosecution said Kezabu between June 2010 and February2011 while employed as a resettlement officer with intention to defraud office of the prime minister made false entries in fuel authorised forms claiming that Total Ntinda1 service station had been properly authorised amounting to sh316m.

On fraudulent accounting prosecution accused Kazinda and Kezabu respectively of making false entries in fuel invoices claiming that Total service station had supplies fuel worth sh316m to the office of the prime minister.

It alleged that Kezabu  between June 2010 and February2011 in  Kampala  with intention  to  defraud  made fake entries in  fuel authorised  form number 3859 claiming  that Total Ntinda1 service station was  to supply 800 litres of diesel  to the office of the prime minister on  June3, 2010.

In a separate case which is already fixed for hearing before Justice Margaret Tibulya of Anti- Corruption High Court, Kazinda is charged jointly with three officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over diverting public fund amounting to a 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.

They denied the charges.

Related to the story

Kazinda gets 5-year jail sentence

Muhakanizi, Bigirimana, grilled over Kazinda case

Witness turns suspect in Kazinda case