Nandutu admits to diverting Karamoja iron sheets to Bududa
The former minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, continued her defence in the iron sheets scandal before the Anti-Corruption court on Thursday.
Nandutu is accused of dealing with suspect property, specifically iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja. Appearing before lady justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, Nandutu gave an unsworn testimony in which she said her actions were meant to support disaster-stricken residents in her home district of Bududa.
She told the court that after landslides devastated parts of Bududa, displacing families and damaging schools and that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), led by Robinah Nabbanja, pledged to support relocation efforts.
Nandutu said this followed a 2021 field visit involving herself, Nabbanja, and then-minister for Disaster Preparedness Mary Goretti Kitutu. According to Nandutu, Kitutu later informed her that 2,000 iron sheets were allocated for Bududa.
However, transporting and distributing the materials required coordination with the chief administrative officer to identify the most affected individuals across 10 sub-counties. She insisted the distribution was to be carried out transparently, with beneficiary lists submitted back to OPM.
But due to health complications, she said, the process was delayed for several months. Nandutu said she was shocked by media reports alleging that some iron sheets were being sold in Manafwa district.
At an emergency meeting chaired by the PM, Kitutu reportedly blamed her brother, citing intoxication as a factor in the mishandling. Nabbanja, according to Nandutu, stated that police had taken over the matter and all involved must take responsibility.
“I never sold any of the iron sheets under my control,” Nandutu told court, adding that over 300 iron sheets were recovered from her farm in Seeta-Mukono while she was away and not present during the police operation.
She further noted that she later paid Shs 26 million, the equivalent value of the unaccounted-for sheets as compensation. Her appearance follows criminal summons issued three weeks ago.
She was found with a case to answer in January this year and is defending herself against charges stemming from a scandal that initially implicated several high-ranking government officials, including the vice president, prime minister, and speaker of parliament.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not proceed with their cases for lack of evidence. Nandutu becomes the second minister formally required to defend herself in court, following state minister for Economic Planning Amos Lugoloobi, who has concluded his defense and is preparing to call additional witnesses.
Meanwhile, the trial of Kitutu is currently on hold pending an appeal related to alleged torture while in state custody.
