KAMPALA, Uganda — A former high-ranking official at the Bank of Uganda has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing old currency notes meant for destruction, highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to curb corruption within its financial institutions.
Charles Kasede Ochieng, the bank’s former head of verification, was found guilty of abuse of office by Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe on Tuesday.
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Asiimwe ruled that Ochieng’s actions “contradicted established procedures” and damaged the bank’s trust in its employees. The court’s decision was based on footage showing Ochieng splitting bundles, removing, and pocketing notes before feeding the punching machine.
“The accused’s behavior contradicts established procedures, as testified by prosecution witnesses and outlined in Regulation 4.6 of the Bank of Uganda Administrative Manual,” Asiimwe said.
Prosecutor Nicholas Kawooya argued that Ochieng’s position was crucial to Uganda’s monetary system, and his actions warranted a significant sentence.
“Ochieng held a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the bank’s operations,” Kawooya said. “His actions undermined that trust and compromised the bank’s core functions.”
Ochieng was accused of stealing over 62 million Ugandan shillings ($16,700) between November 2018 and August 2019 while employed by the Bank of Uganda as a verification officer.
However, Asiimwe acquitted Ochieng of embezzlement due to insufficient evidence.
“The footage shows the accused stealing on multiple occasions, but does not definitively establish the exact amount stolen,” Asiimwe said.
During the trial, Ochieng claimed he was not the sole person involved in currency sorting and that others, including managers and technicians, participated. However, the footage presented in court focused primarily on Ochieng.
Security checks were conducted daily, Ochieng testified, with no reports of shortages.
The Bank of Uganda reported a loss of over 62 million Ugandan shillings during the period Ochieng was accused of stealing.
The sentence aims to curb corruption in Uganda’s financial institutions and send a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated.
“This verdict demonstrates the court’s commitment to holding officials accountable for their actions,” Kawooya said.
