The Anti-Corruption court in Kampala has directed Mulago national referral hospital to conduct an independent medical examination of former minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, and submit a report within two weeks.
The order was issued on Monday afternoon by lady justice Jane Okuo Kajuga after Nandutu declined to begin her defense, citing a serious health condition. She requested a private audience with the judge, saying she could not disclose the nature of her illness in open court “with men watching.”
This development followed a two-hour adjournment earlier in the day, intended to give Nandutu who had arrived from home time to prepare for the 1:00 pm session. When court reconvened, Nandutu’s legal team, led by Nandah Wamukota, informed the judge that she was medically unfit to proceed.
According to her doctors, she was advised to rest at that time. “Your lordship, if it pleases you, the accused would want to speak to you and you listen from her other than hearing from her lawyers alone,” Nandah submitted.
Speaking to the court, Nandutu said, “My medical condition is not a usual sickness, such as malaria or anything else, but it keeps attacking, and that when the advice of her medical doctors is not adhered to, it can even kill.”
In response, Justice Kajuga declined the private meeting, emphasizing judicial protocol and impartiality. She instead ordered a fresh medical assessment at Mulago hospital, citing a prior report from Nakasero hospital that found Nandutu to be generally healthy, though unable to endure stress.
““I have a feeling that when a court makes a ruling, the defense gets a way of bypassing it to delay the trial. I regret to say that the conduct of the defense can do better,” Kajuga said.
Kajuga directed both the defense and prosecution, led by state attorney David Bisamunyu, to cooperate and ensure that Mulago hospital receives the court order and completes the evaluation. The case was adjourned to May 5, 2025.
Nandutu is expected to defend herself following a 2024 court ruling that found she has a case to answer on charges of dealing in suspect property. The prosecution alleges that she illegally received 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets, a form of government property, between June and July 2022.
According to court records, the prosecution presented evidence that Nandutu received the iron sheets, with a key witness testifying that she led police to her home, where the materials were recovered.
While several government officials testified, only Joshua Abaho, personal assistant to former minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu, provided consistent evidence. He stated that he was directed to give iron sheets to Nandutu, though he wasn’t present during the meeting where the decision was made.
Justice Kajuga found his testimony credible and contradicted Nandutu’s defense, which claimed she had no knowledge of the iron sheets’ origin. Detective Superintendent Winfred Nakatudde testified that 1,617 iron sheets were recovered from Nandutu’s farm in Mukono, though 383 sheets were unaccounted for.
“When we asked the farm manager, he said he didn’t count them and didn’t know where the rest were,” Nakatudde told the court.
The case is part of a broader iron sheets scandal implicating three ministers. These include: state minister for Economic Planning minister Amos Lugoloobi, expected to defend himself in court in May 2025.
Former minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu, whose trial was halted pending an appeal over alleged torture in custody. The Inspectorate of Government also accuses Kitutu of failing to implement peacebuilding projects in Karamoja, resulting in a Shs 1.5 billion financial loss to the government. Nandutu now becomes the second minister formally found to have a case to answer in connection to the scandal.
