Top officials in President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government, including his Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, have been exonerated from the Karamoja ironsheets scandal, with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo suggested that some of these officials were misled by their personal assistants.
At least 14,500 iron sheets meant for Karamoja were either diverted or stolen by officials, including top ministers. On June 24, DPP Abodo said that up to 6,100 iron sheets were returned in kind, while 1,000 were returned in monetary terms.
According to Abodo, 2,295 were found at the homes of suspects and recovered while 5,105 iron sheets were still missing.
Abodo has also confirmed that at least 17 cases files have been closed. Most of these are of politicians. The files have been closed due to lack of sufficient evidence.
“In considering the blameworthiness of the suspects, a number of factors were taken into account including the circumstances under which the iron sheets were received, the manner of use of iron sheets upon receipt, and refunds made in kind and cash,” explained DPP Abodo.
She seemed to suggest that these top officials were misled by their personal assistants. Abodo argued that some of these officials were expecting iron sheets for as long as three years since they had applied to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for the same. She also made it clear that a lot of evidence in media reports would not be relied on.
“What was in the media and what was on the file is something so different because in the media it was actually that these ministers went and signed for these iron sheets but when you read on the file, you find that some of them were not even aware. They were just informed by their PAs [Personal Assistants] that we have received iron sheets, where do we take them?” she noted.
“We do not our investigations using media reports. We don’t take that as evidence, it may be the beginning of investigations but it doesn’t mean that we shall now use that. We use what is on the file.”
That means that the only top officials who will be prosecuted for over the saga are: Karamoja Affairs Minister Dr Mary Goretti Kitutu, her junior Agness Nandutu and Junior Finance Minister in charge of Planning Amos Lugoloobi.
These will be charged along Minister Kitutu’s brother Michael Naboya Kitutu and her personal assistant Joshua Abaho. These face charges, including loss of public property, corruption, and receiving stolen property.
It should be remembered that Finance Minister Matia Kasaija shocked the nation when he said that he does not know how the iron sheets developed wings and flew to his compound, while PM Nabbanja had to come out and defend herself against allegations that she had used Karamoja iron sheets to roof her hotels. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
You can also see President Museveni’s decision on how he plans to punish his ministers who ‘stole’ Karamoja iron sheets HERE.
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