On Thursday, April 6th 2023, the cabinet Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Goretti Kimono Kitutu and her brother in-law Micheal Naboya Kitutu, have been remanded at Luzira prison where they will spend their Easter weekend over misuse of public office.
The duo, who appeared before the anti-corruption court in Kololo were remanded to Luzira until 12th April 2023 over diversion of 9000 iron sheets for vulnerable persons in Karamoja under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had sanctioned charges of corruption and conspiracy to commit a felony against Hon. Kitutu Mary Goretti, the DPP said in Twitter.
The minister who appeared in the afternoon with a veil covering her face and shying away from cameras appeared before the anti-corruption court and the ruling was her and her brother must sleep in Luzira for a week and return on 12th April for their bail application hearing.
The minister who is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for Karamoja was found with iron sheets in her home and this inquiry led into a discovery that other top government officials had also taken iron sheets meant for Karamoja in their respective constituencies though denied having lobbied for them and insisted they were just gifted by the ministry.
Others implicated in the iron sheets scandal include the Prime Minister, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Amos Lugoloobi, State Minister for Karamoja, Agnes Nandutu and many others who still maintain innocence. However, all the accused have files and statement taken by the Criminal investigations department.
“I have individual files for everyone implicated in this scandal and we are looking through and whoever was involved will have questions to answer and if found guilty the law will take its course,” said Jane Frances Abodo, the Director for public prosecutions.