Kitutu iron sheets case adjourned to December 4

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The case in which former Karamoja affairs minister Goretti Kitutu is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the region has been adjourned to December 4, 2024, pending the determination of her torture case by the Court of Appeal.

The case was adjourned by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga of the Anti-Corruption Division on October 30, 2024.

On November 28, 2023, Kajuga dismissed an application in which Kitutu claimed she was tortured by security agents during investigations into corruption-related cases regarding the loss of 9,000 iron sheets intended for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme.

However, Kitutu, through her lawyer Jude Byamukama, has since appealed against the ruling at the Court of Appeal.  

Charges

Kitutu, who is the Manafwa District Woman Member of Parliament, faces the charges together with her brother, Micheal Kitutu Naboya and personal assistant Joshua Abaho.

The minister faces two counts of loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud. Naboya is accused of receiving stolen property while Abaho of corruption.

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, the offence of loss of public property elicits a 10-year jail term on conviction. The offence of conspiracy to defraud and receiving stolen property, under the Penal Code Act, attracts a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Kitutu between June 2022 and January 2023 at the OPM stores in Namanve, caused the loss of public property in the form of 9,000 pre-painted iron sheets gauge 28. It is alleged that she diverted the iron sheets from the intended purpose of benefitting the Karamoja Community Development Programme (KCEP), to her own benefit and to the benefit of third parties having reason to believe that such act would result into loss of the said public property.

She is also accused of diverting 5,500 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28, from the intended purpose of benefitting the KCEP, to her own benefit and to the benefit of third parties having reason to believe that such act would result into loss of the said public property.

The state further alleges that the trio between June 2022 and January 2023, conspired by deceit to defraud beneficiaries under the KCEP of 9,000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28.

It is also purported that between June 2022 and January 2023 at Situmi Village, Bukhawekha sub-county, Namisindwa district, Naboya received 100 pre-coated iron sheets of gauge 28 marked OPM-Uganda, having reason to believe the same to have been feloniously obtained.

The prosecution alleges that Abaho in June 2022 at the OPM stores in Namanve, Mukono district, diverted 9,000 pre-painted iron sheets meant for KCEP, for purposes unrelated to those for which they were intended and for the benefit of third parties, which he received by virtue of the position of his office, for purpose of custody and distribution.

Abaho is also accused of diverting 5,500 pre-painted iron sheets which were meant for KCEP for purposes unrelated to those for which they were intended, and for the benefit of third parties which he received for purposes of custody and distribution.