Mbarara
The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Ms Mariam Wangadya, has asked MPs to urgently pass the Proceeds of Assets Recovery Bill 2013 into law.
She said this will help in fighting corruption. “Convicting criminals is not sufficient; it is equally important to recover the money stolen but there is no legal framework to do so. That is why we are looking forward to having a law to enable us seize these assets,” Ms Wangadya said.
Ms Wangadya added that whereas the inspectorate has an Asset Recovery Account it is not backed by the law. There is only an administrative arrangement that applies when culprits in theft scams offer to refund instead of being prosecuted.Ms Wangadya said the delay in passing of the Bill will facilitate the corrupt to hide their ill-gotten wealth in assets that they can enjoy later after serving the sentences. She was officiating at a closure of a four-day workshop on fighting corruption and abuse of office in Uganda in Mbarara Town on Wednesday.
The workshop was attended by officials from the DPP, IGG, CIID and was facilitated by the Danish government. Mr Stephen Kanalo, the Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Police, attached to the CIID headquarters noted that cases die when they have just started and therefore it is in order to give investigators the requisite skills.
The Acting State Prosecutor Denmark, Mr Henrik Helmer, said fighting corruption is a global challenge that requires sharing experiences, challenges and best practices. He said dialoging between countries may at the end of the day end corruption. He expressed his country’s commitment to continue working with Uganda in the fight against corruption.
Corruption cases
On March 3, interdicted ministry officials will appear in court again for another mention of their corruption cases. They are Mr Jimmy Lwamafa, Mr Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa, (interdicted Director Research and Development), Mr Christopher Obey, (interdicted Principal Accountant) and Mr David Oloka Japians, (interdicted senior accounts assistant).