Kitutu returns to court over Karamoja iron sheets

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The former Karamoja affairs minister, Goretti Kitutu, who is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja region, is Thursday, August 28, 2025, expected to return to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala city.

Kitutu, who is the Manafwa district Woman Member of Parliament, together with her brother Michael Kitutu Naboya and personal assistant Joshua Abaho, are expected to appear before Justice David Makumbi for mention of their case.

The case

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 imprisonment.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Kitutu, between the months of June 2022 and January 2023, at the OPM stores in Namanve, caused 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 an act would result in 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.

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.