Minister Lugoloobi did not request for disputed iron sheets, says under secretary
State Minister for planning, Amos Lugoloobi reacts in the dock during proceedings at Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala where he appeared on April 17, 2023 following his arrest on April April 14 over Karamoja iron sheets scandal. PHOTO/ ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- Mr Sseremba presented a memo from Karamoja Affairs minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, requesting for 12,000 iron sheets which were used at the launch of the programme that was presided over by President Museveni in Moroto.
A senior government official on Wednesday told court that the State Minister for finance in charge of planning, Amos Lugoloobi was not involved in the process requisition for iron sheets which were meant for the Karacuna in Karamoja.
Geoffrey Sseremba, the under Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) told the Kololo based Anti-Corruption Court that Mr Lugoloobi does not work in the OPM and therefore could not influence the processes therein.
“It is not mentioned anywhere in the process of approval for iron sheets that Mr Lugoloobi was involved,” said Mr Sseremba during cross examination while responding to whether Lugoloobi was mentioned in the process of approval.
Mr Sseremba was the first prosecution witness to testify against the minister who is accused of corruption related cases regarding possession of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable and reformed Karacunas of Karamoja.
In his testimony, Mr Sseremba presented a memo from Karamoja Affairs minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, requesting for 12,000 iron sheets which were used at the launch of the programme that was presided over by President Museveni in Moroto.
He testified that some of the said iron sheets did not reach Moroto as per the requisition due to another unauthorised issuance by unauthorised individuals leading to investigations by security.
“Any issuance in another area without going against the original plan becomes unauthorized issuance,” he testified.
According to Mr Sseremba, the beneficiaries for the iron sheets were supposed to be the vulnerable and reformed warriors that the ministers as well as MPs were not among.
Mr Lugoloobi who appeared before the High Court Judge Margaret Tibulya is among the three ministers who are accused of being found in possession of iron sheets meant for the Karacunas. Others are Ms Kitutu and Ms Agnes Nandutu, the state minister for Karamoja.
All the three ministers and their co-accused persons await trial separately after they were committed to the High Court.
A second prosecution witness, Joshua Abaho, a senior assistant secretary at OPM who also works as Ms Kitutu’s personal secretary, testified that he participated in the verification of the beneficiaries at the launch by the President.
Mr Abaho is also a suspect jointly charged with Ms Kitutu in a separate case file.
Prosecution case
Prosecution alleges that on July 14, 2022 and February 2023 at OPM Stores in Namanve in Mukono District and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso District and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga District, Mr Lugoloobi dealt with government property, to wit; 400 pre-painted iron sheets marked "Office of the Prime Minister" having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offence under section 10(1) o the Anti-Corruption Act.
