The Anti Corruption Court on Wednesday committed State Minister for Karamoja to High Court for trial over her role in the swindling of iron sheets meant for Karamoja.
In the evidence presented before the court on Wednesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions details how Nandutu got sulked into the scandal that has seen over 10 senior government officials implicated.
In the indictment signed by Chief State Attorney, David Bisamunyu on behalf of the DPP, the Ministry of Karamoja in 2021 received a shs39.9billion supplementary budget which was meant for disarmament and community empowerment program in Karamoja.
“The money was to be used to procure goats and iron sheets for the reformed youth warriors known as Karachunas and other vulnerable groups like the elderly and women in Karamoja sub-region,” the indictment says.
The indictment says that the Office of the Prime Minister later identified MM Integrated Steel Mills Uganda Limited and M/S Roofings Group to supply pre-painted iron sheets and these were marked “Office of the Prime Minister.”
On June, 8, 2022, one Joshua Abaho, a senior assistant secretary in the OPM and a personal assistant to Minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu wrote an internal memo to the undersecretary requesting for the release of 10,000 iron sheets for Moroto.
“This request was made to have the said iron sheets to be used at the official launch of the distribution of items including iron sheets by the president. The launch was to be held in Moroto on June, 13, 2022 at Naitakwae grounds in Moroto district. The internal memo also had a request to authorize one trailer to transport the iron sheets to Moroto,” the indictment says.
The iron sheets were released and Minister Kitutu’s personal assistant, Joshua Abaho picked 1000 iron sheets, leaving behind 9000 that were delivered to Moroto for the launch officiated by President Museveni.
