Mary Gorreti Kitutu, the minister in charge of Karamoja affairs, arrived at the Anti-Corruption Court under heavy guard to face accusations relating to the misuse of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program.
Kitutu arrived at 12:13 PM wearing yellow clothing, a checkered Karamoja cultural garment, and a mask. She was led by a police vehicle with the license plate UP 9432.
On Wednesday, Jane Frances Abodo, the director of public prosecutions, stated that Kitutu had been charged with corruption and conspiring to commit a crime.
She also ordered the police to bring the minister to court after she had been detained for the previous two days. The senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs Office of the Prime Minister, Joshua Abaho, who came at the court in a different car than the Minister, and Kitutu’s brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu, are also anticipated to be charged with them.
Kitutu is accused of stealing 9,000 pre-painted iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program between June 2022 and January 2023 for her own use and the benefit of third parties, according to the charge sheet obtained by Uganda Radio Network.
Additionally, it is claimed that in January 2023, Kitutu diverted 5,500 iron sheets, and her brother in Namisindwa district received 100 of them.
Although he was charged with keeping the iron sheets in safe custody as the receiver, Kitutu’s Assistant Secretary is also anticipated to face charges for his alleged role in using his office to reroute the iron sheets for unrelated objectives, leading to their receipt by other parties.
Counter-terrorism police have increased security at the court, stationing eight armed officers at the entrance. Numerous journalists from various media outlets are camped both inside and outside the court, eager to cover the arrival of the Minister.
Despite the fact that the largest court hall is unoccupied, numerous tinted cars can be observed driving into the complex and parking there without releasing their passengers.
The Karamoja Parliamentary group officially wrote to Adolf Mwesige, the Clerk of Parliament, last month to inform him of their intention to submit a notice of motion for Minister Kitutu’s censure.
Additionally, President Museveni ordered CID and the State House Anti-corruption Unit to collaborate on the investigation of the issue.
The suspects were required to make statements to CID before the DPP took over the prosecution of the case.
A supplemental budget costing 39 billion shillings was approved by Parliament in December 2021 to fund a number of initiatives in Karamoja, including the acquisition of 100,000 iron sheets that were allegedly misappropriated.
CID said last month that they were looking into 22 Ministers, 31 Members of Parliament, and 13 Chief Administrative Officers.
