Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has spoken out on allegations that she used the iron sheets categorized as relief items meant for Karamoja sub-region to roof her hotels.
The Karamoja iron sheets scandal has been evolving from the investigation of Minister Goretti Kitutu’s relatives selling government relief items, into some kind of bonanza, with fresh revelations indicating ministers and other politicians were given iron sheets.
According to a February 13 memo from the Office of the Prime Minister, the list of those who were given iron sheets includes the following:
| Date | Beneficiary | Quantity | Issue Voucher Number |
| 25-01-2023 | Joyce Moriku Kaducu | 200 | 8518 |
| 25-01-2023 | Rebecca Kadaga | 500 | 8519 |
| 30-01-2023 | Jacob Oboth Oboth | 300 | 8520 |
| 30-01-2023 | Rukia Nakadama | 300 | 8521 |
| 30-01-2023 | Matia Kasaija | 300 | 8522 |
| 01-02-2023 | Mary Goretti Kitutu | 3000 | 8524 & 8525 |
| 01-02-2023 | Dennis Hamson Obua | 300 | 8526 |
| 01-02-2023 | Amos Lugolobi | 300 | 8527 |
There were some reports that these individuals above, all of them ministers, and other politicians used these iron sheets for their personal enterprises while others reportedly lied to their constituents that they had dug into their pockets and bought the iron sheets.
Reports had alleged that PM Nabbanja had used the iron sheets to roof her hotels.
But the prime minister, who is also the Kakumiro District Woman MP, had come out to trash these allegations, arguing that she build her hotels years before she was appointed to head government business, and that there is, therefore, no way she could have used the iron sheets for her hotels.
“Saying I used government iron sheets on my hotels isn’t right. I built my first hotel in 2003 and another in 2009,” the PM told NBS Barometer.
She also spoke of how she she had changed things at the OPM, directing that all the iron sheets be branded and coloured so that officials do not divert or steal them.
“Before I came to this office, the office of the Prime Minister was giving out white iron sheets. When I came into office, I made sure I gave out colored iron sheets to distinguish them,” she further spoke during the Tuesday night show.
Of all the ministers named in the Karamoja iron sheets scandal, Kitutu, the Minister of Karamoja Affairs, is the saga’s poster child. PM Nabbanja said the minister will be investigated.
“If the minister misused office and diverted iron sheets supposed to be taken to Karamoja, the office of the Prime Minister will render all the support needed in investigations,” she submitted.
“Some Iron sheets that were supposed to be taken to the people were delivered. We are investigating the cases where iron sheets didn’t reach the people.”
It should be remembered that Minister Kitutu’s relatives, including her mother, were arrested for reportedly selling iron sheets meant for Karamoja. (See Details Here).
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