The hearing of a case in which finance state minister Amos Lugoloobi is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub region, has flopped over absence of the trial judge.

On Tuesday, the Anti-Corruption Court Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Abert Asiimwe informed the parties of the case that court will not be able to proceed since the trial judge, Margaret Tibulya was away, which is technically known as indisposed.

However, the magistrate did not disclose to the parties why the judge is indisposed.

Defence lawyers John Isabirye and Tony Tumukunde represented Lugoloobi while the state was represented by Gloria Inzikuru, who held brief for Josephine Namatovu, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions attached to the Anti-Corruption Department.

Lugoloobi, who is also the Ntenjeru North MP, is battling two counts of dealing with suspect property, contrary to Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The offence elicits a maximum sentence of seven- years imprisonment, upon conviction.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Lugoloobi between July 14, 2022 and February 28, 2023 at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) stores Namanve in Mukono district and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso district and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga district, dealt with government property, namely, 400 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister”, having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offence under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.

On the second count of dealing with suspect property, it is alleged that Lugoloobi between February 1, 2023 and March 16, 2023, at OPM stores Namanve, in the same places, dealt with suspect property, namely, 300 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister”, having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of public loss of property.

Evidence against Lugoloobi

Lugoloobi reportedly received 600 iron sheets in two equal batches of 300. He is said to have received the first consignment from the OPM on July 15, 2022, under voucher number 8058. They were signed for by his personal assistant, John Allan Damulira, and transported using car registration number UBG430S.

The minister also received another batch of 300 sheets from Karamoja affairs ministry on February 1, 2023, under voucher number 8,527.

Exclusive photos accessed by New Vision show the iron sheets in the minister’s cow shed clearly labelled from the inside: “Office of the Prime Minister-Uganda Kiboko pre-coated sheet PPG Gauge 28.”

On Feburary 28, 2023, Lugoloobi decided to de-roof the structure. However, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit team raised his home on the same day and impounded the iron sheets.