Govt Drafts New Rules to Recover Assets From Corrupt Officials

By Skika Reporter

The government has initiated the process of developing new rules aimed at strengthening the recovery and confiscation of assets acquired through corruption, in a move officials say will close longstanding legal and procedural gaps in Uganda’s anti-corruption framework.

The proposed Anti-Corruption (Confiscation and Recovery Orders) Rules, 2026, are intended to provide clear procedures for identifying, managing, confiscating and disposing of property belonging to individuals convicted of corruption-related offences.

Although the Anti-Corruption Act already provides for the confiscation of assets obtained through corrupt practices, implementation has been hampered by the absence of detailed rules governing how such orders should be executed.

Speaking during a validation exercise of the draft rules in Kampala on June 16, Under Secretary in the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, Joel Wanjala, said the government was seeking to address critical weaknesses that have hindered effective asset recovery.

“There has been a gap in the assessment of the value of assets that are confiscated. There are also concerns regarding the management and accountability of income generated from confiscated assets. Questions remain about who monitors that income, how the assets are managed, and the procedures to be followed when disposing of them,” Mr Wanjala said.

The draft rules were developed by the Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) Legal Task Force following authorization from the Chief Justice in a letter dated May 17, 2024. The task force was chaired by the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity and comprised representatives from various anti-corruption institutions, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the Uganda Law Reform Commission.

The proposed regulations are expected to be submitted to the Judiciary Law Reform Committee for further consideration before adoption.

Inspector General of Government Aisha Naluzze Batala said the absence of court-approved confiscation procedures has created a significant gap in enforcing the Anti-Corruption Act.

“The prolonged absence of confiscation procedure rules has left a critical legal gap in the implementation of the Act,” Ms Batala said.

“Without a coherent framework, there has been no clear guidance on confiscation proceedings, the management and disposal of confiscated property by receivers and administrators, or the distribution of proceeds generated from such property,” she added.

According to Ms Batala, the lack of detailed procedures has made it difficult for courts, prosecutors and appointed administrators to implement confiscation orders consistently and effectively.

Once finalized, the rules are expected to enhance the government’s ability to recover wealth acquired through corruption, improve accountability in the management of confiscated assets, and strengthen the broader fight against graft.

The Inter-Agency Forum is a government-led coordination platform that brings together 20 anti-corruption agencies to harmonize accountability initiatives, investigations and enforcement efforts. Chaired by the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, the forum seeks to improve public service delivery and combat financial misconduct through coordinated action.

Its membership includes key institutions such as the Inspectorate of Government, State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Criminal Investigations Directorate, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, Financial Intelligence Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority, and the Office of the Auditor General.

Officials say the new rules will provide a stronger legal foundation for recovering proceeds of corruption and ensuring that confiscated assets are managed transparently and in the public interest.