Minister Kitutu Sent to Luzira over Karamoja Iron Sheets

The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Goretti Kitutu, has been remanded to Luzira prisons for diverting iron sheets meant for vulnerable people in the Karamoja sub-region.

Kitutu and her brother Micheal Naboya Kitutu were Thursday charged at Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo with conspiracy to defraud and loss of public property after she allegedly diverted iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region.

They were remanded till 12th April 2023 when the court will rule on the bail application.

However, the minister’s assistant, Joshua Abaho, with whom she is accused was not present in court.

The prosecution told the court that between June 2022 and January 2023, at the Office of the Prime Minister’s stores in Namanve, Kitutu caused the government, a loss of 9000 iron sheets by diverting them from the intended purpose for her benefit.

Kitutu’s assistant was also accused of corruption whereas her relative faces a charge related to receiving stolen property.

Both denied all the charges before the trial magistrate, Joan Aciro.

The minister is represented by lawyers Michael Wamasebu and Jude Byamukama.

Several government ministers are implicated in the diversion of the Karamoja iron sheets, however, many have denied involvement.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) charged the controversial Minister after she was arrested on Tuesday for snubbing police summons and refusing to take oath before the parliamentary presidential committee.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has consented to the charges. The Police have been directed to produce the Minister in court for a plea,” the ODPP tweeted on Wednesday evening.