Karamoja Iron Sheets Scandal: Minister Kitutu Finally Released On Bail After 8 Days In Luzira
The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Goretti Kitutu, has been granted a UGX 10 million cash bail and UGX 200 million non-cash bail for the sureties by the Anti-Corruption Court.
Her brother, Michael Naboya, was also granted bail with UGX 3 million cash and UGX 100 million non-cash sureties.
The 61-year-old politician, who is also the Manafwa district Woman MP, is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub-region.
Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro at two previous hearings, declined to release her on grounds that some of the sureties she had proposed did not meet the court’s criteria, among other reasons.
“The sureties cannot compel the accused person to attend trial when need arises,” she ruled, much to the disappointment of the defence team. The magistrate advised the lawyers to present other people to stand surety for Kitutu which they did perfectly today thus her release.
Kitutu is jointly charged with her young brother, Naboya Kitutu, 52, a peasant at Situmi village, Situmi parish, Bukhawekha sub-county in Namisindwa district, and Abaho Joshua, the senior assistant secretary – Ministry of Karamoja Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister.
Naboya is accused of receiving stolen property while Abaho of corruption.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) slapped Kitutu with multiple charges of loss of public property, corruption, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Prosecution states that the accused persons between the month of June 2022 and January 2023 at the Prime Minister’s store in Namanve, Mukono district caused the loss of property in form of 9000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28 and 5,500 pre-painted iron sheets (also gauge 28) by diverting them from the intended purpose of benefiting the Karamoja community empowerment programme to their own benefits, knowing that such acts would result into loss of the said public property.
