Nandutu’s case: Police fails to recover 383 iron sheets

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A senior Police Officer has told the court that security operatives failed to recover 383 iron sheets from the former Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu.

The iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region were allegedly diverted by Nandutu, who is also the Bududa district Woman MP.  

Superintendent of Police Winfred Nakatudde, attached to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), informed the Anti-Corruption Court presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga that of the 2000 iron sheets, only 1617 were recovered from Nandutu’s farm, located in Mukono district.

“The remaining 383 iron sheets up to now are nowhere to be seen and Nandutu has failed to account for them,” Nakatudde stated.

The witness said Nandutu informed her that the iron sheets were relief items for the people affected by landslides in the Bududa district.

Nakatudde told the court that Evelyn Hilda Bazibu received 2000 iron sheets on behalf of Nandutu from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) assistant inventory management officer Osbert Arinaitwe at Namanve in Mukono district.

She informed the court that the iron sheets were meant for the Karachuna (reformed Karimojong warriors) who were supposed to hand over guns to security forces during the disarmament exercise.

The witness was testifying in a case in which Nandutu was charged with dealing with suspect property, contrary to section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act. If found guilty, Nandutu will be sentenced to seven years in prison.

Nakatudde was yesterday, July 1, 2024, giving her evidence with the guidance of Chief State Attorneys David Bisamunyu and State Attorney Innocent Aleto. However, Nandutu was represented by Charles Nandaah Wamukoota, John Nalela, and Evans Ochieng.

She revealed that other ministers quizzed over the diversion of iron sheets included the former Karamoja affairs minister Goretti Kitutu, lands minister Judith Nabakooba, and Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth.

Kitutu is currently facing trial together with her brother Micheal Naboya Kitutu and Karamoja affairs ministry senior assistant secretary Joshua Abaho over the diversion of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region at the Anti-Corruption Court.

She is battling two counts of loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud. Naboya is accused of receiving stolen property while Abaho is accused of corruption.

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, the offence of loss of public property attracts a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment on conviction, while the offences of conspiracy to defraud and receiving stolen property elicit a three-year jail term.

The witness told the court that she joined the Uganda Police Force on April 22, 2014 and that she had worked with the SHACU for three years. Her duties, among others, are investigating criminal cases.

The Judge, state prosecutors, and defence lawyers are on Thursday expected to visit the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters at Kibuli to inspect the exhibits (iron sheets). 

Nakatudde told the court that they counted the iron sheets for two days (March 24, 2023, to March 25) and took them to CID, Kibuli headquarters for storage, with a truck hired by Nandutu.

“After the iron sheets were counted, I prepared a search certificate, which was signed by Senior Superintendent of Police Charles Babweteera, Nandutu, Mukono Division CID officer Musa Zziwa, and the LCI chairperson of the area Mathias Mutyaba,” she disclosed.

Iron sheets supplied

The court heard that in 2022 MM Integrated Steel Mills supplied the OPM with 10, 000 pre-painted iron sheets at sh689.9m while Roofings Group 85,044 pre-painted galvanized iron sheets of gauge 28 at sh6.47b. The iron sheets were delivered to the OPM Stores at Namanve.

Allegations against Nandutu

The prosecution alleges that Nandutu between June and July 2022, at the Office of the Prime Minister’s (OPM) stores in Namanve, and in Kkola Cell, Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono district, dealt with 2000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28 marked “Office of the Prime Minister”, by receiving and holding the items, which she had reason to believe were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offence under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009.