The Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) is under renewed scrutiny over missing property records, stalled disposals, and alleged fraud, more than 50 years after the expulsion of over 80,000 Asians from Uganda under the regime of Idi Amin.
During a sitting of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, MPs directed DAPCB officials to produce a comprehensive and verified asset inventory, warning that failure to do so could result in costly legal disputes and revenue losses.
The meeting, chaired by Hon. Allan Mayanja, was convened to address queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 30 June 2024. The report highlighted a number of issues, including an incomplete property register, delayed valuations, weak internal controls, and the fact that the board held only one meeting during the review period.
Established under the Assets of Departed Asians Act, the DAPCB is tasked with managing and disposing of properties left behind after the 1972 expulsion. The Expropriated Properties Act further outlines procedures for valuation, competitive sale, repossession, and restitution. However, Section 3 of the 1973 Act mandates the maintenance of a proper assets register—a requirement that MPs said remains unmet.
Hon. Richard Muhumuza Gafabusa (Bwamba County) pressed the board for clarity on disposals conducted without a verified registry. “What did you gazette? Do you have an asset register with values? On what basis are you selling or collecting revenue?” he asked.
The Auditor General’s report indicates that over 115 properties compensated via the British High Commission in 1999 have yet to be valued, while another 87 properties under the United Nations compensation framework remain unsold. The report warns that these delays risk encroachment, fraudulent claims, and loss of public revenue.
Hon. Juliet Kinyamatama (Rakai District Woman Representative) called for procedural integrity, urging the board to demonstrate compliance with agreed processes. “Show us evidence of the process agreed upon by the board. The law defines the functions of the executive and divestiture committees. What steps are you implementing?” she asked.
Hon. Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju County) raised concerns over ghost claimants and possible ministerial overreach. “If the board approves a process and a minister donates property outside it, that is not right,” he said.
George William Bizibu, Executive Secretary of the DAPCB, acknowledged gaps in documentation but defended the board’s actions. “We don’t have a complete property registry yet,” he said, attributing the delays to the ongoing verification exercise and previous parliamentary guidance halting dissolution plans until a verified inventory is established.
During the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) exercise, Parliament had halted the dissolution of the DAPCB, emphasizing that liquidation without a verified inventory could create confusion and lead to loss of property and government revenue.