State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu has been detained after handing herself to police in connection to the Karamoja iron sheets scandal.
Nandutu was on Monday reported to have refused to honour CID summons issued on Friday, with some media reports claiming that she had fled the country.
But on Tuesday morning, senior CID sources intimated to this website that the minister handed herself to police and will soon be brought to court to be formally charged over the iron sheets scandal. Police spokesman Fred Enanga promised to issue a formal statement on the matter, when contacted.
Nandutu becomes the third minister to be detained over the Karamoja iron sheets scandal. On Monday, State Minister for Finance (Planning) Amos Lugoloobi was charged for dealing in suspect property and remanded to Luzira prison until April 20.
The charges arise from his alleged involvement in the diversion of 700 pieces of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program. The Iron Sheets were part of the interventions made by the government to aid groups of youths and older persons in the Karamoja sub-region.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala heard that Lugoloobi, while at the office of the Prime Minister Stores in Namanve, Mukono District and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso and Ntejeru North in Kayunga District dealt with government property containing 700 pre-painted iron sheets, which he later used for roofing his personal projects.
The said iron sheets were obtained in two phases; one containing 400 iron sheets that were taken between July 14, 2022, and February 2023, and another batch of 300 iron sheets obtained between February 16, 2023, and March 16, 2023. He denied the charges.
Prosecution led by State Attorneys Stanley Moses Baine, David Kisamunyu, Jonathan Muwaganya and Safina Lule informed the court that the investigations in this matter are still ongoing. Baine asked for an adjournment.
The first was Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu who was presented in court on April 6, 2023, together with her brother Michael Naboya Kitutu on six charges related to causing loss of property and conspiracy to defraud the government of Uganda. Kitutu and his brother Naboya were granted bail and will return on April 27, 2023.
Last month CID stated that they were investigating 22 Ministers, 31 Mps and 13 Chief Administrative Officers. The Spokesperson of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Jacquelyn Okui has since stated that files of those implicated will be coming in piecemeal as and when they are forwarded by the Police which is investigating the matter.
President Museveni on April 3, 2023, wrote to Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja saying those who were involved in the iron sheets scandal made a political mistake and he also promised to make a political action
