Anti-Corruption CSOs Ask Museveni to Assent to Non-Conviction Based Asset Recovery Bill

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kigezi Region and Kabale District
stakeholders have asked President Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa to assent to the Non-Conviction Based Asset Recovery Bill in order to recover government funds that get lost through corruption and embezzlement.

Non-Conviction Based Asset Recovery is a procedure that provides for the
seizure and forfeiture of stolen assets without the need for a criminal conviction.

Speaking yesterday during the press conference to launch of the Anti-corruption week activities for the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) at Lukiiko Hall in Kabale Municipality, the Executive Director of Kick Corruption out of Uganda, Robert Kakuru Byamugisha said that a conviction based asset recovery policy is not helping the government to recover funds lost through corruption and embezzlement because it imposes an unrealistic burden of proof on the prosecution.

Byamugisha said that, if the Non-Conviction Based Asset Recovery Bill is
assented to, corrupt government officials will fear to misappropriate the
taxpayers money and this will improve service delivery. He also said that
the Whistleblowers’ Protection Law should be expedited so that witnesses
are protected.

The FOWODE Field Officer for Kabale, Dorothy Kesiime, said that if the bill
is signed, it will be very easy for the government to recover a lot of
money from corrupt government officials. She also asked the public to
report corrupt officials in their communities to responsible offices so
that they are disciplined.

The Kabale District Principal Assistant Secretary, James Mugisha said that
they recently held the meeting with the inspectorate of government of
Uganda and expect President Museveni to assent to the Non-Conviction Based Asset Recovery Bill.