Judge to Visit CID in Nandutu Iron Sheets Case
KAMPALA, Uganda – Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, presiding over the case against former Karamoja Affairs State Minister Agnes Nandutu, will visit the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters in Kibuli on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The visit aims to gather facts regarding the alleged misappropriation of iron sheets.
Justice Kajuga will be joined by both the prosecution and the defense teams, along with the accused, Nandutu. The prosecution is represented by Chief State Attorney David Bisamunyu and State Attorney Innocent Aleto. The defense lawyers are Charles Nandaah Wamukoota, John Nalela, and Evans Ochieng.
The purpose of the visit is to verify the number of iron sheets recovered from Nandutu by security operatives. This visit was scheduled by the Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Justice Kajuga, today, July 1, 2024.
Winfred Nakatudde, a senior police officer with the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), testified that security operatives were unable to recover 383 iron sheets from Nandutu. Nakatudde stated, “The remaining 383 iron sheets are nowhere to be seen, and Nandutu has failed to account for them.”
The iron sheets were intended for the Karamoja sub-region but were allegedly diverted by Nandutu, who also serves as the Bududa District Woman MP. According to Nakatudde, out of the 2,000 iron sheets allocated to Nandutu, only 1,617 were recovered from her farm in Mukono District.
Nakatudde told the court that Nandutu claimed the iron sheets were meant as relief items for people affected by landslides in the Bududa District. The court also heard that Evelyn Hilda Bazibu received 2,000 iron sheets on behalf of Nandutu from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) assistant inventory management officer, Osbert Arinaitwe, at Namanve in Mukono District.
Nakatudde’s testimony is part of a case in which Nandutu is charged with dealing with suspect property, contrary to Section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act. If found guilty, Nandutu could face up to seven years in prison.
The prosecution alleges that between June and July 2022, at the OPM’s stores in Namanve and in Kkola Cell, Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono District, Nandutu dealt with 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28 marked “Office of the Prime Minister.” The prosecution claims she received and held these items, knowing they were acquired through the loss of public property, which is an offense under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009.
Iron Sheets Case Details
The following table summarizes the key details of the iron sheets case involving Agnes Nandutu:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Judge | Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga |
| Accused | Agnes Nandutu |
| Allegation | Misappropriation of 2,000 iron sheets |
| Iron Sheets Recovered | 1,617 |
| Iron Sheets Unaccounted For | 383 |
| Location of Iron Sheets | Nandutu’s farm in Mukono District |
| Intended Use of Iron Sheets | Relief for landslide victims in Bududa District |
| Prosecution Lawyers | Chief State Attorney David Bisamunyu, State Attorney Innocent Aleto |
| Defense Lawyers | Charles Nandaah Wamukoota, John Nalela, Evans Ochieng |
| Potential Penalty | Up to 7 years in prison |
