Parliament Orders Physical Verification of Over 2,300 Departed Asians' Properties

Uganda’s Parliament has stepped up its oversight regarding properties left behind by Asians who were expelled from the country in 1972 by former President Idi Amin. The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has officially ordered a detailed physical verification of 2,313 assets managed under the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB).

This move comes amid mounting concerns from legislators regarding the current whereabouts, ownership status, and overall management of these historical holdings. Lawmakers are keen to ensure transparency and accountability within the board, which has faced questions over financial discrepancies and asset tracking.

The 2,313 properties currently slated for physical inspection make up the remaining balance of the DAPCB’s broader 2,515-property register. A separate portion of the portfolio has been carved out for independent investigations.

Specifically, 202 properties have been set aside due to reported compensation arrangements involving international bodies, including 115 properties linked to the British High Commission and 87 tied to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Lawmakers have noted the possibility of double benefits arising from some historical transactions, prompting the need for independent confirmation of records.

The parliamentary probe continues as investigators dig deeper into compensation claims and transaction histories to resolve decades-old property disputes. For more details on this developing parliamentary investigation, read the original report on Daily Monitor.