Title: Finnish Embassy Accountant in Uganda Convicted of Money Laundering and Embezzlement of UGX 8.4 Billion

Kamya Valentino and Three Others Convicted of Money Laundering

In a landmark case, a Finnish accountant at the Finnish Embassy in Uganda, Kamya Valentino, and three others have been convicted of money laundering in connection with the embezzlement of UGX 8.4 billion.

Intelligence and Initial Investigation

In 2015, the Ugandan Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) uncovered a suspected embezzlement case involving the Embassy accountant through intelligence received from international partners. The FIA indicated that Kamya was transferring the ill-gotten gains into various bank accounts, some of which belonged to his associates.

Disguised Assets and Concealment

FIA investigations found that Kamya used a portion of the funds to purchase prime real estate and luxury vehicles. To hide his ownership, Kamya registered these assets under a fictitious company. His father-in-law was a shareholder in this company. Other assets were registered in Kamya’s wife’s name.

Asset Tracing and Halting Transactions

To prevent the flight of funds and ensure a successful asset recovery process, the FIA successfully traced and halted transactions on the bank accounts where some of the proceeds of crime had been deposited.

Prosecution, Conviction, and Sentencing

Kamya was arrested and charged with seven counts of money laundering under a plea bargain. He was convicted on 28th July, 2020. Kamya was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and agreed to compensate the Swedish Embassy the full amount of UGX 8.4 billion, upon selling all the properties he had acquired using the embezzled funds.

Convictions for Kamya’s Wife and Father-in-law

Kamya’s wife and father-in-law were also convicted for their roles in concealing the illegally acquired property. They were subsequently charged with money laundering as well.

FIA’s Call for Vigilance and Reporting of Suspicious Transactions

In an effort to curb financial crimes in Uganda, the FIA urged citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious transactions to the authority, promoting transparency and accountability in financial dealings.

For further details about the trial and the identifications of the defendants, please stay tuned for updates.