The Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) is again under the spot light over missing records, stalled property disposals and fraud, more than 50 years after Idi Amin expelled over 80,000 Asians from Uganda.
In a meeting of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Tuesday, 03 March 2026, Members of Parliament directed officials from the DAPCB to provide a comprehensive and verified asset inventory, warning that failure to do so may lead to costly legal disputes and revenue losses.
The committee chaired by Hon. Allan Mayanja was meeting officials from the DAPCB on queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended 30 June 2024.
The report in part, revealed that there was an incomplete property register, delayed valuations, weak internal controls and that the board held only one meeting during the entire period under review.
Established under the Assets of Departed Asians Act, DAPCB was mandated to manage and dispose of properties left behind after the 1972 expulsion.
The Expropriated Properties Act further prescribed procedures for valuation, competitive sale, repossession and restitution. But Section 3 of the 1973 Act requires the board to maintain a proper assets register, a requirement MPs said, was not met.
Bwamba County Member of Parliament, Hon.Richard Muhumuza Gafabusa, demanded 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.
According to the Auditor General, over 115 properties compensated through the British High Commission in 1999 have not been valued to-date. The report adds that another 87 properties under the United Nations compensation framework are yet to be sold.
The Auditor General warned that such prolonged delays risk encroachment, fraudulent claims and loss of public revenue.
Rakai District Woman Representative, Hon. Juliet Kinyamatama called for procedural integrity.
“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 said.
Buhweju County MP, Hon. Francis Mwijukye raised concerns about ghost claimants and alleged ministerial overreach.
“If the board approves a process and a minister donates property outside it, that is not right,” he added.
The Executive Secretary of the DAPCB, George William Bizibu acknowledged gaps in documentation but defended the board’s trajectory.
“We don’t have a complete property registry yet,” Bizibu conceded attributing the delays to the ongoing verification exercise and earlier parliamentary guidance halting dissolution plans until a clear inventory is established.
During the the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX), Parliament halted the dissolution of the DAPCBinsisting that liquidation without a verified inventory would create confusion leading to loss of property and revenue to government.
