Katengeza was charged together with former assistant director of tourism Leonard Kalonga who is waiting his sentence for conspiring to use the former’s Faith Construction Company to defraud government.

Judge Fiona Mwale of High Court found Katengeza guilty of theft and money laundering from government coffers.

The defense lawyer Gilbert Khonyongwa, who had asked the court to consider handing his client a non-custodial sentence, said he will discuss with the convict on whether to appeal or not.

State Prosecutor and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Deputy Director Reyneck Matemba welcomed the custodial sentence, saying theft and money laundering are among serious offences in the country and custodial sentences are more ideal.

Allegations of the massive looting of government money became public following the shooting of the finance ministry's then budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September 2013.