The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has sanctioned charges of corruption and conspiracy to commit a felony against Minister Kitutu Mary Goretti Kimono for diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme.
The DPP, Jane Frances Abodo, has consented to the charges, and the police have been directed to produce the Minister in court for a plea on Thursday.
The embattled Karamoja Affairs Minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, was arrested and taken into custody by the joint team of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) who are investigating the diversion of relief items, including goats and iron sheets, meant for the vulnerable people in the semi-arid Karamoja region on Tuesday.
Kitutu, who had been summoned by the Parliamentary Committee on Presidential Affairs to testify about allegations of abuse of office and diversion of relief items, didn’t show up, prompting the MPs to direct for her arrest.
When she finally appeared, Kitutu declined to take an oath and was handed over to the Parliament CID team, which transferred her to CID headquarters.
“She was supposed to have appeared and recorded a statement with us last week, but she kept dodging us.” “We have since been recording statements from others on charges of abuse of office, theft, and diversion, among other charges,” police sources told the media.
The iron sheet scandal has caused public anger and calls for all the named government officials to return the relief items and others to resign.
Over 15 government officials have recorded statements with the investigating agencies. State Minister for Karamoja Agnes Nandutu is the latest government official to return some of the diverted relief items.
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