Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has met the management of the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) to review the status and operations of the Board as government works towards concluding the management of expropriated properties in accordance with the law.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for General Duties, Hon. Cissy Mulondo, and the Minister of State for Privatization and Investment, Hon. Aminah Mukalazi.

DAPCB's delegation was led by the Board's Executive Secretary, George William Bizibu, and the Chairman of the Divestiture Committee, Arnold Turwomwe.

Established under the Assets of Departed Asians Act, DAPCB was mandated to manage and dispose of properties left behind following the 1972 expulsion of Asians from Uganda.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the Expropriated Properties Act prescribes the procedures for the valuation, competitive sale, repossession and restitution of the properties. The law also provides that the properties left behind were vested in the Government of Uganda under the authority and management of DAPCB, which is chaired by the Minister of Finance.

During the meeting, Bizibu said the Board had recreated a register of the properties in line with the legal requirement to maintain a proper assets register and had issued a Gazette notice for the unclaimed properties.

Turwomwe told the meeting that of about 9,000 properties under the Board's records, approximately 2,000 remain unclaimed.

Musasizi said he would work closely with the Board's management to conclude the process in accordance with the law. He also said Minister of State for Privatization and Investment Aminah Mukalazi would closely monitor the operations of DAPCB.

The meeting focused on the Board's progress in managing and accounting for expropriated properties and the next steps towards completing its mandate under the law.