Court asks Kazinda to defend self

Justice David Wangutusi of the Anti-Corruption Court orders Mr Kazinda to present his side of the story after prosecution closed the presentation of its 14 witnesses.

A court has ordered the interdicted principal accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Geoffrey Kazinda, to defend himself in connection with the alleged forgery of signatures of the permanent secretary.

Mr Kazinda is accused of forging Mr Pius Bigirimana’s signature and withdrawing money worth millions of shillings from government coffers.
Justice David Wangutusi of the Anti-Corruption Court yesterday ordered for Mr Kazinda’s defence after prosecution closed the presentation of its 14 witnesses.

“This court finds a prima facie case (sufficient evidence) in this matter. Therefore, the accused should be put on defence,” Justice Wangutusi ruled.

Mr Kazinda is facing charges of alleged abuse of office, forgery and unlawful possession of government property.

A police scene of crime officer, Mr Samary Angaia, presented to court photographs showing Mr Kazinda’s residential house in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb, and documents recovered during the searching process of the home.

Mr Angaia said he photographed Mr Kazinda’s house and items recovered during the searching process upon instructions from his superiors.

According to the charge sheet, the suspect forged signatures of Mr Bigirimana and had computer- generated letters addressed to director in-charge of banking at Bank of Uganda and cash withdraw authorisation forms.

Meanwhile, an investigating officer from the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (CIID), Mr Patrick Tusiime, told court that they found several documents in a room in the house of Mr Kazinda’s mother, which included computer-generated papers, security forms and cash withdraw forms holding forged signatures of the PS.

“The mere fact that these documents were recovered in the possession of Mr Kazinda, which he has never denied, is enough evidence to show that he was the one who forged the permanent secretary’s signature,” Mr Tusiime said.

Last month, Mr Bigirimana testified Mr Kazinda, explaining how the latter forged his signature to withdraw money worth millions of shillings from state coffers.

Describing Mr Kazinda as a “bad character in office,” the permanent secretary told court that the interdicted principal accountant used to “mix up” funds of different departments without his consent.
Court has set March 22 for Mr Kazinda to defend himself against the allegations.