Summary:

• The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court has issued a directive for the appearance of Karamoja Affairs Minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, in response to charges related to the alleged loss of 1.5 billion shillings.

The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court has issued a directive for the appearance of Karamoja Affairs Minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, in response to charges related to the alleged loss of 1.5 billion shillings. Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe emphasized the necessity for Kitutu’s presence in court during the proceedings, ordering her lawyer, Jude Byamukama, to ensure compliance with the directive.

Magistrate Asiimwe underscored the importance of timely justice delivery while acknowledging the uncontrollable nature of health issues. Consequently, he adjourned the court session and issued criminal summons to Hon. Kitutu, urging legal representatives to facilitate their clients’ attendance to initiate trial proceedings.

In accordance with the court’s ruling, Byamukama was instructed to produce Kitutu at the next scheduled session on March 19, 2024. These directives were issued subsequent to Byamukama’s disclosure of Kitutu’s health condition. Additionally, criminal summons were extended to Kitutu’s co-accused, including an accountant at the Office of the Prime Minister, Tracy Atuhirwe.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, on February 19, 2024, dismissed Kitutu’s plea to block the trial, asserting that the charges were distinct from previous cases. Justice Kajuga elucidated that the alleged offenses were unrelated to peace-building activities, emphasizing the divergence in timeframes and circumstances between the transactions in question.

Kitutu, along with Geoffrey Sseremba and Deogratius Masagazi from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), faces charges ranging from causing financial loss to corruption. Previous charges against Sseremba and Masagazi were addressed last year, resulting in bail being granted.

The charges against Kitutu entail potential penalties, including fines up to 4.8 million shillings and a maximum jail term of 14 years for causing financial loss. Additionally, conviction under the Anti-Corruption Act carries a 10-year jail sentence and a ban on holding public office for a decade.

Prosecution led by William Moses Ntumwa of the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) alleges Kitutu’s failure to execute peace-building activities in the Karamoja sub-region, resulting in financial loss to the government. Sseremba and Masagazi are accused of negligence in authorizing payments, while Atuhirwe faces allegations of mismanagement of funds designated for peace-building initiatives.

These developments occur concurrently with Kitutu’s ongoing trial for the diversion of iron sheets intended for the Karamoja sub-region. Charged alongside her are her brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu, and personal assistant, Joshua Abaho, facing accusations related to receiving stolen property and corruption, respectively.