The hearing of the case involving Amos Lugoloobi, Uganda’s State Minister for Finance, resumed on October 14, 2024, at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala. Lugoloobi, who also represents Ntenjeru North as a Member of Parliament, faces two counts of dealing with suspect property. These charges are filed under Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act. If found guilty, the minister could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
The case is being heard by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga at the High Court’s Anti-Corruption Division. The prosecution is led by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, while the defense team consists of lawyers John Isabirye and Tonny Tumukunde.
The charges stem from allegations that Lugoloobi misappropriated iron sheets intended for use in Uganda’s Karamoja region. Prosecutors accuse him of acquiring and dealing with government property—specifically 400 iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister” (OPM)—between July 14, 2022, and February 28, 2023. It is alleged that Lugoloobi knew these materials had been lost from public property, thus violating Section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
Another count accuses Lugoloobi of similarly dealing with 300 additional iron sheets, again marked “OPM,” between February 1, 2023, and March 16, 2023. These iron sheets were allegedly taken from the OPM stores in Namanve, Mukono District, and moved to various locations, including Matugga in Wakiso District and Ntenjeru North in Kayunga District.
The evidence presented against Lugoloobi includes records showing he received 600 iron sheets in two separate deliveries. The first batch of 300 iron sheets was reportedly received on July 15, 2022, under voucher number 8058. The second batch of 300 sheets was allegedly delivered on February 1, 2023, under voucher number 8527 from the Karamoja Affairs Ministry.
These materials were signed for by Lugoloobi’s personal assistant, John Allan Damulira, and transported using a vehicle with registration number UBG430S. Photographs obtained by the press allegedly show the iron sheets in a shed on the minister’s property, clearly marked “Office of the Prime Minister-Uganda Kiboko pre-coated sheet PPG Gauge 28.”
On February 28, 2023, Lugoloobi reportedly took action to remove the iron sheets from the structure in question. However, that same day, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrived at his home and seized the materials.
