Overview:
The officials, including Accountant General Lawrence Semakula, were taken from Kira Division Police Station to their residences in and around Kampala for the searches.
Nine senior Ministry of Finance officials are in custody following a police investigation into the theft of Shs53 billion from Bank of Uganda. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Directorate of Forensics on Wednesday searched the homes of several of the detained officials.
The officials, including Accountant General Lawrence Semakula, were taken from Kira Division Police Station to their residences in and around Kampala for the searches. The operation began around 10:30 am after family members arrived at the police station. Mr. Semakula’s home on Crescent Road in Bukoto was searched at approximately 1:30 pm, followed by the residence of Mark Kasiiku, an IT specialist in the ministry, in Muyenga.
Yasin Omar, the LC1 chairperson of Muyenga Hill village, expressed concern about the search in his area, stating that he was not notified beforehand. He emphasized the importance of local council involvement in such operations, noting that the search form includes a provision for LC confirmation of recovered items.
The nine officials were initially detained on Tuesday at CID headquarters in Kibuli, where they were invited for questioning as part of the ongoing probe. Those detained include:
- Lawrence Semakula, Accountant General
- Jennifer Muhuruzi, Acting Director of Treasury Services and Asset Management
- Mubarak Nansaba, Commissioner of the Treasury Service Department
- Judith Ashaba, Accountant
- Deborah Dorothy Kusiima, Senior Accountant, Treasury Services Department
- Tonny Yawe, Senior IT Officer
- Paul Lumala, Systems IT Officer
- Bephar Nayebare, Department of Management Information Systems
Following the home searches, the suspects were returned to Kira Division and Nateete police stations.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the arrests and searches, stating, “We have nine persons in custody as part of our investigation into the missing funds. More details will follow as the inquiry progresses.”
The investigation follows a report in November, revealing President Museveni’s directive to the CID, the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), and the Auditor General’s office to investigate the matter.
The alleged theft involves two separate transactions. On September 10th, $6.134 million (Shs22.3 billion) intended for the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) was reportedly diverted to a private company, Roadway Company Ltd, in Tokyo, Japan. On September 26th, another $8.596 million (Shs31.2 billion) meant for the African Development Bank’s African Development Fund (AFD) was allegedly rerouted to a private company, MJS International, in London.Bank of Uganda has since reported that $8.205 million (Shs29.9 billion), less $390,000 (Shs1.42 billion), has been returned by the corresponding bank in London from the account of MJS International.
The CID and DIS probe is focused on the nine individuals suspected of manipulating government payment systems. The specific role each suspect played in the alleged theft remains unclear.