Custodian board reassures Asians over expulsion fears
Accountability. Custodian board officials led by Finance minister Matia Kasaija (right) and the executive secretary, Mr George William Bizibu (centre), appear before Parliament on August 20. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
What you need to know:
- Justification. A section of Ugandans of Asian origin fear that the current probe into the alleged mismanagement of Asians properties is likely to result in a second expulsion.
The Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) have dispelled fears of expelling Ugandans of Asian origin who were named in the fraudulent acquisition of disputed assets worth billions of shillings.
The DAPCB executive secretary, Mr George William Bizibu, and Dr Abdul Byakatonda, the chairperson of the divesture committee of the custodian board, told journalists in Kampala yesterday that those spreading such claims “are seeking sympathy from the public because they fraudulently acquired the disputed properties”. The officials challenged the Asians to present their documents for verification as proof of ownership of the properties.
DAPCB officials explained that the ongoing investigations before Parliament and the verification process at the Custodian board are meant to clear the mess and streamline the ownership of the property.
Last week, a section of Ugandans of Asian origin expressed fear that the current probe by the parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) into the alleged mismanagement of Asians properties that were left behind in 1972 is likely to result in a second expulsion.
But Mr Bizibu yesterday reiterated that “there is no intention to deprive anyone of their property but rather to verify the authenticity of ownership of all the properties and the occupants to enable them make a comprehensive report as required by the Auditor General”.
“As we prepare to wind up and repeal the law, the Auditor General prevailed and required us to make a comprehensive report. We have different categories of property to be verified, among them are those expropriated and repossessed.
Others were redeemed by government and their original titles are here with us but we want to know their status and the people occupying them,” he said without revealing the number.
The DAPCB executive secretary also revealed that they are compiling the list of all categories to weed out fraudulent elements, some of whom he said have since petitioned court instead of accepting the due process of the law.
“Some of the properties are managed by agents using purported powers of attorney since repossession and yet upon repossession, a person is required to appear physically within 120 days. Others are using repossession letters of upcountry properties to claim for Kampala properties and others do not have certificates because of their fraudulent ways,” Mr Bizibu said.
However, Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Italy Mamtaz Kassam, who helped a number of Asians repossess their properties while still a lawyer, has questioned why it has taken the DAPCB close to 30 years to challenge its own process.
However, Dr Byakatonda said some of the people named in the mess presented fraudulent documents to claim assets and that this was the basis for the ongoing investigations. He revealed that some files have been sanctioned for some individuals to face criminal charges in courts of law.
