A senior police officer has testified in court that security operatives have been unable to recover 383 iron sheets allegedly diverted by Agnes Nandutu, the former Karamoja Affairs State Minister. Nandutu, who is also the Bududa District Woman MP, is accused of misappropriating iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region.
Superintendent of Police Winfred Nakatudde, from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), told the Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, that only 1,617 of the 2,000 iron sheets were recovered from Nandutu’s farm in Mukono District. “The remaining 383 iron sheets are still missing, and Nandutu has failed to account for them,” Nakatudde stated.
Nandutu claimed that the iron sheets were intended as relief items for people affected by landslides in Bududa District. However, Nakatudde reported that Evelyn Hilda Bazibu received 2,000 iron sheets on Nandutu’s behalf from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) assistant inventory management officer, Osbert Arinaitwe, at Namanve in Mukono District. The iron sheets were originally meant for the Karachuna, reformed Karimojong warriors, as part of a disarmament exercise.
The witness was testifying in a case where Nandutu is charged with dealing in suspect property, a violation under Section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act. If found guilty, she faces up to seven years in prison.
During her testimony on July 1, 2024, Nakatudde, guided by Chief State Attorneys David Bisamunyu and Innocent Aleto, detailed the investigation. Nandutu was represented by lawyers Charles Nandaah Wamukoota, John Nalela, and Evans Ochieng.
Nakatudde also revealed that other ministers, including former Karamoja Affairs Minister Goretti Kitutu, Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, and Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, have been questioned regarding the diversion of iron sheets. Kitutu, her brother Micheal Naboya Kitutu, and Karamoja Affairs Ministry senior assistant secretary Joshua Abaho are facing trial for similar charges.
Kitutu faces two counts of loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud, while Naboya is accused of receiving stolen property, and Abaho of corruption. Under the Anti-Corruption Act, the offence of loss of public property can result in up to 10 years imprisonment, while conspiracy to defraud and receiving stolen property carry up to three years in jail.
Nakatudde, who joined the Uganda Police Force on April 22, 2014, and has been with SHACU for three years, explained her role in investigating criminal cases. She said that the iron sheets were counted over two days, March 24 and 25, 2023, and then taken to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters in Kibuli for storage, transported by a truck hired by Nandutu. The search certificate was signed by Senior Superintendent of Police Charles Babweteera, Nandutu, Mukono Division CID officer Musa Zziwa, and the local council chairman Mathias Mutyaba.
The court heard that in 2022, MM Integrated Steel Mills supplied the OPM with 10,000 pre-painted iron sheets at a cost of 689.9 million shillings, while Roofings Group supplied 85,044 pre-painted galvanized iron sheets of gauge 28, worth 6.47 billion shillings. These iron sheets were delivered to the OPM Stores at Namanve.
The prosecution alleges that between June and July 2022, Nandutu dealt with 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister” at the OPM stores in Namanve and in Kkola Cell, Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono District. The prosecution claims she had reason to believe the iron sheets were acquired through the loss of public property, which is an offence under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009.
The Judge, state prosecutors, and defense lawyers are expected to visit the CID headquarters in Kibuli on Thursday to inspect the iron sheets.
