News

Apr 20, 2023

Karamoja Iron Sheets: DPP Processes Minister Lugoloobi’s File

State Prosecutors have started drafting charges against State Minister for

State Prosecutors have started drafting charges against State Minister for Planning, Amos Lugoloobi, over the diversion of iron sheets meant for Karamoja development programme.

Lugoloobi recently confirmed receiving and using the iron sheets to roof his animal shed in Kayunga District.

Prosecutors are considering charges related to theft, loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud among others against Lugoloobi.

"While some of the Ministers who received iron sheets sent them to needy public schools and churches, Lugoloobi used the relief items meant for the poor to roof his private property," said a source briefed on the investigations.

"So, Lugoloobi is likely to be next after Karamoja Affairs Minister Goreti Kitutu."

The development comes high on the heels of the arrest and jailing of Hon Kitutu over the mismanagement of the relief items meant for Karamoja.

Kitutu, who last week appeared at the Anti-Corruption court in Kampala, denied the charges of loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud.

Kitutu was charged alongside her brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu and Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs Office of the Prime Minister.

Abaho faces two separate charges of corruption while Naboya will answer another charge of receiving stolen property.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution said more suspects would be prosecuted over the diversion of the iron sheets.

In his defence, Lugoloobi said he received about 600 G28 corrugated pre-painted iron sheets which he used to roof a shed for his goats on his farm located in Misanga Village, Bbaale Sub-county in Kayunga District."I have realized that these iron sheets are evil and I no longer need them. Let me remove it so that I can buy other iron sheets and re-roof my shed so that no one can lay claim that I owe them anything on my property," he was quoted by Daily Monitor as saying.

He then ordered workers to pluck off the sheets.However, heavily armed security personnel cordoned off the farm and blocked access to it, with the minister saying he did not want strangers and journalists to access the premises to witness the de-roofing.

"How much are the 600 iron sheets I received? This is too little money because I have been donating iron sheets, which I have been buying using my personal money to schools, churches, mosques and other community projects," he said, adding, "I have removed them (the iron sheets) and now let me walk in peace because some people who don't like me have misinterpreted this whole matter."

However, officials told ChimpReports that removing iron sheets from the animal shed does not insulate Lugoloobi from prosecution "because these items were procured by taxpayers’ money and were diverted from their intended purpose."

The source added: "Lugoloobi will pay for this loss occasioned to the taxpayer."

The DPP last week said, "Each suspected recipient of the iron sheets has a case file. The DPP will make a decision on each case file when submitted by the Police, based on the evidence and the law."’