The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued criminal summons for John Watenga, the farm manager of former Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu. Watenga is required to appear in court to testify in a case involving diverted iron sheets.
On Monday, May 27, 2024, Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga issued the summons after Chief State Attorney David Bisamunyu reported that Watenga was avoiding court appearances. Bisamunyu said, “I have tried to use a civil approach to have Watenga appear in court to testify, in vain. I pray for criminal summons,” leading the judge to grant his request.
During the cross-examination, Assistant Inspector of Police Clement Otiti, a scene of crime officer attached to the Directorate of Forensic Services, informed the court that he recovered 1,617 iron sheets from Nandutu’s farm in Mukono. These iron sheets, marked “Office of the Prime Minister pre-coated sheet,” lacked serial numbers.
Nandutu, who is also the Bududa district woman MP, is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region. The defense lawyers, Charles Nandaah Wamukoota and John Nalela, questioned Otiti about the recovery process.
Otiti testified that the iron sheets were counted on March 24 and 25, 2023, in the presence of several officials, including Nandutu, Watenga, and police officers. “After the iron sheets were counted, a search certificate was prepared and the recovered items were taken to Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) at Kibuli headquarters for storage,” Otiti stated.
On March 24, 2023, Otiti received a call instructing him to go to CID Kibuli for further details. There, he met with Commissioner of Police Chelimo Beata, who informed him about the investigation into the alleged diversion of iron sheets. Chelimo revealed that Nandutu had confessed to receiving 2,000 iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister and taking them to her farm in Mukono.
Following these instructions, Otiti and other police officers went to Nandutu’s farm to recover the iron sheets. Before leaving for Mukono, Nandutu informed them that she had an urgent meeting and would join them later. She provided them with Watenga’s contact to represent her.
The police officers proceeded to the farm, where they were received by Watenga. “We informed Watenga that we had come to perform a search in the farm premises and he led us where the iron sheets were piled,” Otiti said. Some iron sheets were found in the main building and others in the poultry house.
Nandutu is facing charges of dealing with suspect property, under section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act. If found guilty, she could be sentenced to seven years in prison. The prosecution alleges that between June and July 2022, Nandutu dealt with government property, namely 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister,” which she allegedly received and held despite knowing they were lost public property.
The case has been adjourned to July 1, 2024, for further hearing.
