Following her dismissal from the position of Minister of Karamoja affairs by President Museveni in last week’s reshuffle, Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu has expressed her determination to intensify her efforts in mobilizing support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Dr. Kitutu affirmed her allegiance to the NRM, emphasizing her intention to enhance grassroots mobilization activities for the party now that she has more time available. She expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the opportunities he provided her to serve in various ministerial capacities.
Her remarks were delivered to a large gathering of local residents during belated celebrations commemorating the annual March 8 Women’s Day in Butiru Town Council, Manafwa District, over the weekend.
In the recent reshuffle, President Museveni replaced Dr. Kitutu, the embattled Manafwa District MP, with Peter Lokeris. Additionally, her deputy, Agnes Nandutu, was also dismissed from her position and replaced by Florence Nambozo, a lawmaker from Sironko District.
Dr. Kitutu, born in what was formerly Manafwa District on September 17, 1962, has previously served as the state minister for environment and the minister of energy and mineral development.
In 2023, Dr. Kitutu and her deputy, Agnes Nandutu, faced charges of corruption and conspiracy to defraud the government concerning the mismanagement of iron sheets allocated for the vulnerable population in Uganda’s Karamoja Sub-region.
In late 2015, Mary Goretti Kitutu made her debut in Ugandan elective politics by vying for the position of Manafwa District Women Representative in the 2016 national and parliamentary elections. Running under the political party platform of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), she secured victory and has since held the position as the incumbent representative.
Her political career saw significant advancement when, on June 6, 2016, she was appointed as the State Minister for the Environment. This appointment marked her entry into ministerial roles within the Ugandan government, where she took on responsibilities related to environmental affairs.
A pivotal moment in her ministerial journey occurred during a cabinet reshuffle on December 14, 2019. Mary Goretti Kitutu was elevated to the position of Cabinet Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, succeeding Irene Muloni, who was relieved of her duties. This appointment signified a notable shift in Kitutu’s portfolio, with her assuming a more prominent role in overseeing Uganda’s energy and mineral sectors.
The Ex Minister for Karamoja Affairs has extended an apology to President Yoweri Museveni and sought forgiveness for her involvement in the iron sheets affair. The scandal has also implicated ministers Amos Lugolobi, who was retained and Agnes Nandutu, who was also relieved of her duties as minister. All are facing trial.
In a letter dated December 20, 2023, addressed to the President, Kitutu, along with Nandutu and Lugolobi, expressed gratitude for their continued presence in the cabinet despite negative publicity surrounding the scandal. They acknowledged the President’s decision to retain them and sought forgiveness for their mistakes, likening their relationship to that of children seeking pardon from their parent.
Kitutu elaborated on the challenges she and her co-accused faced in securing a meeting with the President and reiterated their apology for any errors committed in the iron sheet saga. She also highlighted the financial burden and emotional strain caused by the legal proceedings.
Additionally, Kitutu raised concerns about missing iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), indicating a potential new scandal. She informed the President about directing the new permanent secretary to investigate the shortfall of 11,006 iron sheets, separate from those previously alleged to have been stolen by the ministers involved in the ongoing trial.
