By Kabuye Ronald
The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has sentenced Bududa District Woman Member of Parliament Agnes Nandutu to four years in prison for her involvement in the незакон acquisition and possession of government iron sheets meant for vulnerable Karachuna communities in Karamoja.
Presiding judge Jane Okuo ruled that the time Nandutu spent on remand will be deducted from her sentence. The court also ordered that all recovered iron sheets be returned and barred her from holding public office for ten years.
Court records show that between June and July 2022, Nandutu received and kept 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets, gauge 28, labeled “Office of the Prime Minister.” Prosecutors proved that she handled the materials despite having reason to believe they were obtained through the loss of public property.
At the time, Nandutu served as both Bududa Woman MP and State Minister for Karamoja Affairs under the Office of the Prime Minister. The ministry was implementing a government programme valued at approximately Shs39.94 billion during the 2021/2022 financial year to support disarmament and community empowerment in the Karamoja sub-region.
The initiative included the procurement and distribution of relief items, among them 95,044 iron sheets stored at the Office of the Prime Minister’s facility in Namanve for onward distribution.
In June 2022, officials requisitioned 10,000 iron sheets for a presidential launch event in Moroto District. Although the request was approved, only 1,000 sheets were issued, leaving a balance of 9,000 in storage. Nandutu attended the launch on June 13, 2022.
Court evidence further revealed that shortly after the event, the then Minister for Karamoja Affairs informed Nandutu that 2,000 iron sheets had been allocated to her, reportedly for landslide victims. She accepted the allocation and arranged for their collection.
On June 23, 2022, Nandutu provided transport funds and directed her political assistant to pick up the iron sheets from the Namanve stores. The consignment was first delivered to a private residence in Wakiso District, where she reportedly confirmed the quantity, before being moved to her residence in Seeta, Mukono District on her instructions.
