The fate of eight ministers implicated in Karamoja iron sheets scandal now lies in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecution Jane Frances Abado.
Police working closely with State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) forwarded eight files to the DPP for perusal and further management.
“The ball is now in the DPP’s hands. For us we did our job,” said a top official who participated in the investigations.
This website understands that among the 8 files, the DPP had sanctioned only two after perusal.
The two are for Ministers Agnes Nandutu and Amos Lugoloobi.
Lugoloobi, the State Minister for Planning, had used the ‘evil’ iron sheets he received from Office of the Prime Minister to roof a shed for his animals at his farm. After the scandal broke out, Lugoloobi removed the iron sheets.
Nandutu, the State Minister in charge of Karamoja also received the iron sheets (Mabaati) from her senior Goretti Kitutu who in Luzira on remand.
Court on Wednesday denied Kitutu bail as the ‘Prime Suspect’.
Speaking to the spokesperson of the DPP, Jackline Okwi, she said the case files her boss received are still being perused through by the DPP. “She is yet to take action in respect of each of them.”
Asked what had delayed the DPP to sanction the arrest of 8 ministers, Ms Okwi said, “they are 8 case files. They are not few! And the evidence needs to be properly analyzed.”
Asked to for names of the 8 government officials, she declined saying this information is confidential.
Court denied bail to Minister Kitutu over lack of substantial sureties.
President Yoweri Museveni who early this month wrote to the Prime Minister Hon Robina Nabanja, directed that all those who participated in the diversion of the iron sheets should pay heavily and those who unconsciously took them should return them or pay money in equal value.
Minister Kitutu faces two counts of loss of public property and one count of conspiracy to defraud according to the charge sheet that was presented before court last week.
Among the 100000 iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja, 15000 ended in the homes of top NRM officials.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija told Parliament that he found the iron sheets in his compound.
Speaker Anita Among who had donated the 500 iron sheets to roof a school in her constituency repaid the money in equal value.
The Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister and Third deputy Premier Rebecca Kadaga are among the beneficiaries of the theft.
