Former Bank of Uganda official has been sentenced to three years in prison for abusing his position to steal old currency notes meant for destruction.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero sentenced Charles Kasede Ochieng, former Head of Verification at the Bank of Uganda (BoU), to three years in prison on October 31, 2024.
Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe convicted Ochieng of abuse of office but acquitted him on the embezzlement charge due to lack of evidence.
Magistrate Asiimwe clarified that although Ochieng was initially accused of stealing Shs474 million, this amount was later revised to Shs62 million. However, the prosecution failed to provide concrete evidence proving that BoU experienced a financial loss. Despite this, the court found sufficient proof of abuse of office, particularly through CCTV footage that showed Ochieng pocketing old currency notes intended for disposal.
The footage presented by the prosecution showed Ochieng carefully looking around before taking the notes. He was seen placing bundles of money into his pocket and discreetly walking away. The court determined that these actions violated his role, classifying it as an arbitrary abuse of his official position.
From November 2018 to August 2019, while working as Head of the Verification Unit at the BoU’s Mbale branch, Ochieng engaged in actions that led to his conviction. Magistrate Asiimwe stated that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ochieng abused his office. “This court finds that the ingredient of the offence of abuse of office has been proved and hereby convicts the accused as charged,” Asiimwe declared.
State Attorney Nicholas Kawooya, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), called for a sentence of three and a half years, citing a breach of trust by Ochieng. Kawooya emphasized the seriousness of the crime, noting that as a verification officer, Ochieng held a role of integrity in a crucial institution that upholds the country’s monetary system. Kawooya argued that Ochieng’s act of taking old notes designated for destruction demonstrated corrupt intent and damaged BoU’s trust in its employees.
According to Uganda’s sentencing guidelines, the offence of abuse of office carries a maximum penalty of seven years, with three and a half years as the starting point. Kawooya noted that a significant sentence was warranted to reflect the gravity of the offence.
Ochieng’s lawyer, Arthur Mwebesa, requested leniency, suggesting a non-custodial sentence. He argued that as the main provider for his family, a prison sentence would impose hardship on Ochieng’s dependents. However, Magistrate Asiimwe aligned with the prosecution’s position, underscoring the importance of deterring similar abuses of office through appropriate sentencing.