Kampala, Uganda: The Inspectorate of Government charged the Honorable Minister for Karamoja, Goreti Kitutu, on Wednesday, accusing her of causing a financial loss of UGX 1,555,365,000. The Minister in-Charge of Karamoja Affairs faces charges alongside Sseremba Geoffrey, Secretary/Accounting Officer; Masagazi Deogracious, Under-Secretary/Head of Department, Pacification, and Development Program in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM); and Athuhirwwe Tracy, Accountant, all from the OPM.
The amended charge sheet has now included Minister Kitutu and the Head of Accounts at OPM, Athuhirwwe Tracy. The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued criminal summons to Minister Mary Goreti Kitutu and Athuhirwwe Tracy to appear in court on February 29, 2024.
On the other hand, Sseremba Godfrey and Deogracious Musagazi, who were present in court, have been charged afresh with corruption. They maintained a plea of not guilty before Magistrate Opit, and through their lawyers, applied to maintain their already granted bail, which the court allowed with no objection from the Inspectorate of Government (IG) prosecutors. The IG is represented in the matter by prosecutors Nantabazi Diana and William Moses Ntumwa.
Particulars of Counts and Offences:
Count One: Causing Financial Loss
Causing financial loss contrary to section 20(i) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009, as amended.
Hon. Mary Goreti Kitutu, between February 2022 and June 2022, while performing her duties as Minister of Karamoja Affairs, failed to conduct various peace-building activities in the Karamoja region, knowing or having reason to believe that her omissions would cause financial loss. She indeed caused a financial loss of One Billion, Five Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Shillings to the government of Uganda.
Count Two: Corruption
Corruption contrary to section (2) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009, as amended.
Sseremba Geoffrey and Deogracious Masagazi, between February and June 2022, while at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala, in the performance of duties as accounting officer and head of the department (Pacification and Development Program), respectively, for the purpose of illicitly obtaining benefits for themselves and Hon. Mary Goreti Kitutu, omitted to exercise due diligence/care when authorizing a total cash payment of 2,230,291,000.
Count Three: Corruption
Corruption contrary to section 2(1) and 26 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2002, as amended.
Athuhirwwe Tracy, between April and June 2022, while at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala, in neglect of her duty as the acting head of accounts, failed to properly manage and ensure accountability for Two Billion, Two Hundred Thirty Million, Two Hundred Ninety-One Thousand (2,230,291,000) UGX, funds that were meant for peace-building activities in the Karamoja region.
The Ankole Times newspaper will provide further updates on the proceedings as Minister Goreti and others have been summoned to appear in court on the 29th day of February 2024.
