Kampala, Uganda – A former senior official at the Bank of Uganda has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing old currency notes meant for destruction.

Charles Kasede Ochieng, the bank’s former head of verification, was found guilty of abuse of office by Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe.

The court ruled that Mr. Ochieng’s actions “contradicted established procedures” and damaged the bank’s trust in its employees.

Prosecutor Nicholas Kawooya argued that Mr. Ochieng’s position was crucial to Uganda’s monetary system, and his actions warranted a significant sentence.

“The accused’s behavior undermines the integrity of the bank’s operations,” Mr. Kawooya said.

Mr. Ochieng was accused of stealing over 62 million Ugandan shillings ($16,700) between November 2018 and August 2019.

However, Magistrate Asiimwe acquitted Mr. Ochieng of embezzlement due to insufficient evidence.

The Bank of Uganda reported a loss of over 62 million Ugandan shillings during the period Mr. Ochieng was accused of stealing.

This verdict is seen as a significant step in Uganda’s efforts to curb corruption within its financial institutions.