The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono, appeared before the High Court Anti-Corruption Division on Monday, July 24, 2023, and denied mismanaging the iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people in the Karamoja sub-region.

The minister appeared before High Court Justice Jane Kajuga Okuo alongside her co-accused, that is to say, her brother Michael Naboya and senior secretary Joshua Abaho, who also denied any wrongdoing.

The prosecution alleges that both Kitutu and her co-accused were involved in mismanaging relief supplies to the Karamoja sub-region.

The three have been accused of misappropriation of public funds, corruption, receiving stolen goods, and conspiracy to deceive.

According to the prosecution, the group caused a loss of public property in the form of 14,500 iron sheets between June 2022 and January 2023 at the Office of the Prime Minister’s stores in Namanve by diverting them from the intended purpose of benefiting the Karamoja community empowerment programme to their own benefit, knowing that such acts would result in the loss of public property.

“This statement is being made in my capacity as Minister for Karamoja Affairs on the matter of iron sheets procured under my Ministry. Without proper guidance, some iron sheets meant for the Karamoja region were given outside the region in response to requests. This could have been an oversight, but now that guidance has been given, this will not recur,” part of her apology statement read.

Kitutu’s appearance before the committee was part of an ongoing investigation into the matter.