By Our Reporters
Uganda Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala on April 20,2023 granted bail to State Minister for planning, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi who had been on remand in Luzira prison for four days over Karamoja iron sheets. The Principal Senior Grade One Magistrate, Ebert Asiimwe granted Hon. Lugoolobi bail after payment of Ushs 10 million cash, surrendered original title of one of his plots of land to court . The legislator shall not leave Uganda for any trip abroad without seeking permission from court.
The Minister was also ordered to surrender his diplomatic passport before his sureties were bonded at Ushs100 million not cash. The Magistrate warned that failure to comply with the bail terms would lead to automatic cancelation of the bail. The case was adjourned to June 2, 2023. Hon. Lugoolobi, the Ntenjeru North MP is one of the three ministers who have so far been charged in court over the scandal in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Hon. Mary Goretti Kitutu
The development comes after several complaints and concerns from Ugandans on increasing cases of corruption and abuse of office by government officials. Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu was the first to be apprehended , charged and remanded to Luzira. She was released after a week on a cash bail of Ushs10 million. Hon Kitutu is jointly charged with her younger brother, Mr Michael Naboya Kitutu and Mr Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Karamoja Affairs in OPM. State Minister for Karamoja affairs, Hon. Agnes Nandutu was also charged and remanded this month after she handed herself to police. The Minister was committed to high court for trial and expected to appear in court on May 3, 2023..
Both Mr Lugoloobi and Ms Nandutu were charged with dealing with suspect property contrary to Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009. Section 21A of the AntiCorruption Act, 2009 .
Dealing with suspect property (1) A person who deals with property that he or she believes or has reason to believe was acquired as a result of an offence under this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred and sixty currency points or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both.
(2) For the purposes of sub section (1), a person deals with property if that person, holds, receives or conceals the property; or (b) enters into a transaction in relation to the property or causes such a transaction to be entered into; or (c) removes the property from the jurisdiction of court for the purpose of assisting any person to avoid confiscation of that property. Hon Amon Lugoolobi was widely covered in the media for roofing a pigs shed with iron sheets meant for Karamoja people.
The iron sheets scandal came to light in February after Ministers and legislators were reported to have dubiously benefited from relief items meant for vulnerable people from Karamoja. Top government officials were named in the scandal.
The relief items were budgeted for in a Ushs39b supplementary, which Parliament passed approved in December, 2021. At least Ushs22b was allocated for purchasing goats with Ushs5b earmarked for procuring 100,000 iron sheets. Minister Kitutu is said to have diverted 14,500 iron sheets and allocated it to Ministers, MPs and local officials. The Director for Public Prosecutions(DPP) is yet to prosecute 40 people in the scam■
