Embattled Karamoja Affairs Minister Dr .Mary Gorreti Kitutu has been produced in the Anti- Corruption Court and charged for causing loss of public property among other charges and she has been remanded to Luzira maximum prison until April 12 when her bail application shall be heard .
Kitutu’s charges are related to the mismanagement of iron sheets intended for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program .
Kitutu was charged together with her brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu, and Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs Office of the Prime Minister.
Kitutu allegedly caused a loss of public property between June 2022 and January 2023 by diverting 9,000 pre-painted iron sheets intended for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program to her own benefit and that of third parties.
In January 2023, Kitutu is further alleged to have diverted 5,500 iron sheets and her brother received 100 of them in Namisindwa district.
Kitutu’s Assistant Secretary is also charged fo using his office to divert the iron sheets for unrelated purposes, resulting in their receipt by third parties.
Background :
In December 2021, Parliament passed a supplementary budget worth 39 billion shillings to support various programs in Karamoja, including the purchase of 100,000 iron sheets, which are alleged to have been diverted. Last month, CID announced that they were investigating 22 Ministers, 31 MPs, and 13 Chief Administrative Officers.”
Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo confirmed she had sanctioned charges of corruption and conspiracy to commit a felony against Kitutu and directed the police, who had been holding the Minister in custody for the last two days, to produce her in court.
