Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court has found former junior minister Agnes Nandutu guilty of handling suspect property in a case linked to the diversion of government iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja.
In her ruling, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga said the prosecution had demonstrated that Ms Nandutu had reason to believe the 2,000 iron sheets were irregularly obtained.
The court heard that the materials, which were part of a government programme to support disadvantaged groups in the Karamoja sub-region, were instead stored at her private farm for several months rather than being distributed.
Ms Nandutu had argued that the iron sheets were intended for landslide victims in Bududa District, but the court rejected this explanation, citing a lack of documentation or official approval.
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Evidence presented showed that the materials were designated for vulnerable beneficiaries under a government initiative, and no formal request or allocation supported their diversion.
The prosecution also told the court that the iron sheets were received in June 2022 and initially held by one of Ms Nandutu’s aides before being transferred to her farm.
Court records indicated the items were labelled for “vulnerable persons”, contradicting her claim that they were meant for disaster relief in her constituency.
In her defence, Ms Nandutu said she had acted on guidance from her senior minister at the time, Mary Goretti Kitutu, and that she had been sidelined within the ministry, limiting her awareness of broader government programmes.
However, the judge dismissed these claims, saying there was no evidence that the iron sheets had ever been allocated to Bududa.
“It is shocking how the materials were received without any formal requisition or documentation indicating their intended use,” Justice Kajuga said.
The court also questioned why the items remained in storage for months, noting that if they were meant for disaster victims, they would have been distributed promptly.
Justice Kajuga further ruled that, given her position, Ms Nandutu was expected to be aware of government procedures and the intended beneficiaries of the programme.
She concluded that the former minister had sufficient reason to suspect the materials were diverted through a corrupt process and convicted her under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Ms Nandutu was remanded in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for later this week.
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