The Minister of State for Finance (Planning) Amos Lugoloobi was arrested on Friday over relief iron sheets meant for the people of Karamoja.
Mr Lugoloobi is said to be detained at Kira Division Police Station as he awaits to be produced in court on Monday.
“Following the ongoing investigations into the alleged theft and diversion of Iron sheets meant for the Karamoja region, the office of the DPP has sanctioned criminal charges against Hon.
Amos Lugolobi, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development. As a result, he has been arrested and detained at Kira Division, pending court. More details to follow,” police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.
He’s one of the ministers who received the iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub region.
He reportedly received 600 iron sheets said to be part of relief materials that the government procured through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for vulnerable people in Karamoja Sub-region.
Mr Lugoloobi in February this year admitted that he had used some of the G28 corrugated pre-painted iron sheets he received to roof a shed for his goats on his farm located in Misanga Village, Bbaale Sub-county in Kayunga District.
“I have realised that these iron sheets are evil and I no longer need them. Let me remove it so that I buy other iron sheets and re-roof my shed so that no one can lay claim that I owe them anything on my property,” he said after ordering workers to pluck off the sheets.
His arrest on Friday happened just hours after he returned part of the consignment he received to the Office the Prime Minister (OPM) stores in Namanve.
Karamoja Affairs Minister, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu who’s accused of distributing the iron sheets to Mr Lugoloobi and several other ministers, MPs and relatives was on Friday released on bail after spending eight days in custody.
Her younger brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu was also granted a cash bail of Shs3 million during the Friday court proceedings.
Her sureties were each bonded at Shs200 million, not cash, while her brother’s sureties were each bonded at Shs100 million, also not cash.
The sheets of corrugated iron roofing were earmarked for low-cost housing in Karamoja, an underdeveloped and restive region in northwest Uganda bordering Kenya and South Sudan.
The scandal caused significant public outcry across the country where government corruption is endemic.
