Agnes Nandutu has become the first minister to be committed to High Court for trial over the Karamoja iron sheets scandal.
Nandutu, the state minister for Karamoja who on Tuesday handed herself over to police was at 11am on Wednesday chauffeured to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo by police after spending a night in cells at Kira Division police headquarters.
The jolly legislator cum minister would later exchange pleasantries with journalists as she was being taken to the court cells.
The court
Nandutu was later paraded before Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe and one count related to diverting of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program were read for her.
A charge of dealing with suspect property contrary to section 21a(1) of the Anti Corruption Act 2009 was read for her.
Under the charge, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) contends that during the month of June 2022, at the OPM stores Namanve, Mukono District and Kkola cell , Bulwanyi Parish in Mukono district, the minister dealt with 2000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28 by receiving and holding the said iron sheets which she had reason to believe were acquired as a result of lose of public property , an offence under section 10(1) of the Anti Corruption Act 2009.
However, Nandutu denied the charges.
“Your worship, I understand the charges but they are not correct,” she told court.
Committal
The prosecution led by told David Bisamunyu court that investigations into the matter have been completed.
“Your worship, I have instructions from the DPP to have the accused committed to High Court for trial. Present with me are committal papers,” Bisamunyu told court.
The trial magistrate would later read Nandutu’s indictment to court and committed her for trial.
“The accused is hereby committed for trial in the next court session,” Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe said.
The state prosecutor also told court he was read to disclose all the evidence to be used to pin Minister Nandutu.
Nandutu's lawyer Charles Nandah told court that she was not happy with the proceeding in court.
"This was unfair and was deliberate by the state to fail the applicant's efforts to apply for bail. The state has done this while in the know of the health condition of the applicant,"Nandah said.
The State Minister has been adjourned up to May, 3.
Nandutu now joins fellow minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu(Karamoja) and Amos Lugoloobi( finance) to be arraigned before court over the iron sheet saga.
She however becomes the first minister to be committed to High Court for trial.
Several other senior government officials including the Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija among others have also been implicated in the saga.
According to police, which is carrying out investigations into the matter, at least eight ministers in total are lined up to be arraigned in court over the iron sheets saga.
President Museveni recently said he would take political action against all involved in the iron sheet saga that he described as a subversive act.
