The hearing of the case in which Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region resumes Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

The court is being presided over by High Court judge Jane Okuo Kajuga.

Nandutu, who is also the Bududa district Woman MP, is being represented by lawyers Evans Ochieng, Charles Nandaah Wamukoota and John Nalela, while the state by Chief State Prosecutor David Bisamunyu.

In the last court session, the Karamoja ministry’s senior assistant secretary, Joshua Abaho, testified that his boss, minister Goretti Kitutu, maliciously misused Karamoja iron sheets and donated them to her colleagues in Cabinet and Parliament.

According to Abaho, 9,000 of the released iron sheets were diverted to several dignitaries as donations and only 1,000 were sent to Karamoja.

The witness, however, told the court that he accounted for only 1,000 iron sheets that were sent to Karamoja in June 2022, at the official launch of the distribution of the items by President Yoweri Museveni.

The witness revealed that the iron sheets were donated to Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu, Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, lands minister Judith Nabakooba, finance state minister Amos Lugoloobi, among others.

Lugoloobi is also currently battling two counts of dealing with suspect property, contrary to Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act, before the same court.

“Karamoja affairs minister Kitutu gave out iron sheets in form of donations to different people. The items were part of the 10,000 pre-painted iron sheets that had been requisitioned for the launch in Karamoja,” Abaho stated.

Abaho, who is also Kitutu’s permanent secretary, was testifying in a case in which Nandutu, who is also the Bududa district Woman Member of Parliament, is charged with dealing with suspect property (iron sheets) meant for the Karamoja sub-region.

Nandutu is battling charges of dealing with suspect property, contrary to section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act. If found guilty, Nandutu will be sentenced to seven years in prison.

Prosecution alleges that Nandutu between the months of June and July 2022, at the OPM stores in Namanve, and in Kkola Cell, Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono district, dealt with government property, namely, 2000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28 marked “Office of the Prime Minister”, by receiving and holding the items, which she had reason to believe were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offence under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009.

On the other hand, Kitutu, who is the Manafwa district Woman Member of Parliament, faces two counts of loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud at the Anti-Corruption Court together with her brother Micheal Kitutu Naboya and personal assistant Joshua Abaho.