Karamoja Affairs Minister Dr Mary Goretti Kitutu may be out of prison but is not yet uhuru. Her involvement in the iron sheets (mabaati) scandal is said to have had an impact on her reputation in the districts of Manafwa, Namisindwa and the rest of Bugisu as well as at national level.
Before she was arrested and arraigned in the Anti-Corruption Court, Minister Kitutu had reportedly been barred from attending cabinet meetings. Reports further indicated that her boss President Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni was so furious.
As the country and world watched arrests of ministers named in the mabaati scandal, expectations that Gen Museveni would swing his axe and throw most ministers from his cabinet, and send them to jail over iron sheets that were supposed to go to the Karamojong under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme.
But the state security, prosecution and anti-corruption agencies have not gone beyond three ministers – Kitutu, her junior and Bududa District Woman MP Agness Nandutu and junior planning minister Amos Lugoloobi – a minister’s relative and assistant.
And, just like that, the iron sheets saga seems to be forgotten, at least among members of the public, and those named in the scandal can breathe for some time. They only have to go to court for case mentions and their legal battles could take long.
For now, ministers like Kitutu can meet their members of the public at events and tell them how innocent they are. But their status as members of Museveni’s cabinet is something they might be worrying about.
Gen Museveni promised to take political action against ministers involved in the mabaati scandal after the completion of investigations. With reports that Gen Museveni had thrown her out of cabinet weeks ago, Kitutu has now embarked on a move to let all those who can hear her that she is still a minister and that she did nothing wrong to cause her sacking.
Kitutu recently addressed members of the public in the sub county of Tesekulu in Namisindwa District where she told those listening to her that she has not yet been fired and that she did not see herself losing her job over an issue for which she insists she is innocent.
She assured locals that Museveni was yet to fire her, that she had not received any formal communication on her alleged sacking and that she still had her security guards. She was also optimistic that God would help fight her battles.
“Imagine me, a full cabinet minister stealing iron sheets yet I am the one who fought hard to ensure that Parliament allocates money for the same purpose! The second thing you must know is that I do not only rely on my salary because I also have a budget and donations. I was baptized. My God, the one I worship, will help in this situation,” she said.
“Nobody should lie to you that President Museveni and his government have formally changed my status as Minister of Karamoja Affairs. I am still in charge. I still have everything a minister has because I am one. You can see my guards are with me. If you have any such formal communication you wish to address to me, please send it to me.”
You can read about Minister Kitutu’s first court appearance, her wealth and Gen Museveni’s decision on the fate of his ministers involved in the mabaati saga Here, There and Over There.
Meanwhile, a senior Museveni minister has made a shocking confession on receiving bribes via mobile money. (See Details Here).
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