The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has issued a summons to Mary Goretti Kitutu, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, to appear for questioning regarding alleged supplementary funds disbursed to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). This development unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing corruption trial faced by Minister Kitutu.
The summons, dated December 6, 2023, instructs Minister Kitutu to appear before the Inspectorate of Government at Jubilee Insurance Centre, Plot 14, Parliament Avenue, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 10 am. The IGG specifically requests her to bring documents or information related to the management of supplementary funds allocated to the OPM for peace-building activities in Karamoja Sub-region during the FY2021/22.
Notably, Minister Kitutu is currently embroiled in a corruption trial related to the alleged diversion of Karamoja iron sheets. The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court ordered this trial, setting the stage for further legal proceedings.
Legal Contention:
Jude Byamukama, one of the lawyers representing Minister Kitutu, asserts that they are contesting the IGG’s summon on the grounds of potential double prosecution, which is legally impermissible. Byamukama argues that the investigations by the IGG overlap with the iron sheets matter already prosecuted by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He emphasizes that they are legally challenging the summon, citing a violation of the minister’s right to a fair trial in the pending case.
Article 28 (9) of the constitution states that a person who has been tried by a competent court for a criminal offense and convicted or acquitted of that offense shall not face a similar offense except upon the order of a superior court. However, Byamukama specifically invokes Article 28 (1), asserting the minister’s right to a fair hearing.
Ongoing Corruption Case:
In April of the previous year, the DPP filed charges against Minister Kitutu, including causing the loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud. The charges are connected to the alleged diversion of 14,500 iron sheets intended for vulnerable individuals in Karamoja under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme.
Under count one, the DPP alleges that between June 2022 and January 2023, Minister Kitutu caused the loss of 9,000 pre-painted gauge 28 iron sheets by diverting them from the intended recipients. Count two accuses her of causing the loss of 5,500 iron sheets.
The corruption scandal involving Karamoja iron sheets has implicated several Cabinet ministers. To date, three ministers, including Minister Kitutu, Agnes Nandutu (State Minister for Karamoja Affairs), and Amos Lugoloobi (State Minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development), face charges before the Anti-Corruption Court, with their cases pending legal proceedings.
