Collaborate Effort: Police and SH/ACU Team UP to Investigate Karamoja Theft Iron Sheets.

Police and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) have partnered to investigate the alleged theft of iron sheets meant for Karamoja development. The joint persecution-led injury aims to hold accountable those responsible for the theft and ensure justice for the affected communities.

This has been revealed by the Uganda police spokesperson Fred Enanga through the police website.

“As you are all aware, H.E. the President, has directed for an expeditious inquiry into allegations of theft of iron sheets and other relief items, that were meant for Karamoja region, following increased complaints from the intended beneficiaries and other concerned citizens.” Enanga wrote.

https://twitter.com/PoliceUg/status/1635277698946994180

“In line with the above, the Director of Public Prosecution using her Constitutional powers has directed CID working jointly with SH/ACU to expeditiously conduct a criminal investigation into the matter.” He added.

The theft of Karamoja Iron sheets was exposed after officials of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested relatives of Minister for Karamoja, Mary Goretti Kitutu, with iron sheets clearly marked as relief. They allegedly attempted to sell the items on the open market.

Investigation has since confirmed that Minister Kitutu allocated herself 3000 pieces of iron-sheets intended for the poor. She also superintended over the distribution of the iron sheets to colleagues in cabinet and outside of government in what is being dubbed the “iron sheets bonanza”.

“It is sad for a minister who is a mother to sell items meant to help children of fellow mothers in Karamoja,” said MP John Bosco Ngoya of Bokora South in Karamoja.

During the parliament seating on Feb.28, Speaker Anita Among appeared to shield herself and the accused ministers in iron sheet saga as she  confessed of getting 500 iron-sheets.

“If there was any diversion (of the iron sheets), it’s not anybody’s fault,” she ruled as she presided over the plenary of Parliament. She also blocked MPs from speaking about the issue.

“I don’t want other ministers to be pulled into what they are not concerned with,” she said in apparent reference to a growing list of members of cabinet who received iron sheets.

 “I saw iron sheets in Bukedea (her constituency); I didn’t ask for them but I ordered that they be given to schools innocently. I didn’t open a shop to sell them,” she told Parliament on Feb.28.

She cautioned MPs against trying to rope in every one who received iron sheets.

“I want to request Members, let’s not go diversionary; the member or Minister who is responsible for Karamoja is there,” she said, “Let everybody carry his cross.”

While appearing before the Committee, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija used the same defense.

“Yes, I got,” he said, “Someone says ‘Honorable Kasaija, the Office of the Prime Minister is donating iron sheets for you’.

“I never applied for those iron sheets. Never did I not apply for them,” he said.

On March 03, while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Presidential Affairs which is investigating the issue, Kitutu issued an apology and said the iron sheets were diverted because she was not given proper guidance.

Kitutu clarified that the Ministry of Finance released Shs39.94 billion towards the implementation of pacification of interventions in Karamoja sub-region. The money was to buy 100,000 iron sheets and goats for the region.

The Minister for Karamoja said 95,044 iron sheets were delivered to OPM stores in Namanve. She said 74,400 goats were delivered and distributed to beneficiaries in the region although area MPs refuted her claims.

According to minister Kitutu, her office had by end of February 2023 released 20,500 iron sheets. Of these, 1,000 and 5,000 iron sheets were delivered to Moroto and Nakapiripirit Districts respectively.

“The balance of 14,500 was distributed as donations,” she said.

She also said that the Office of the Prime Minister is in the process of delivering the remaining 74,544 iron sheets. She said 3,339 beneficiaries as submitted by districts would get the iron sheets.

The Minister of State for Planning, Amos Lugoloobi is also one of the defining images of Karamoja Iron sheets who got 600 of them and used some of them to roof a shed for animals on his farm.

When the scandal emerged, Lugoloob rushed to remove the roof and called the iron sheets “evil”.

“I have realised that these iron sheets are evil and I no longer need them. Let me remove it so that I buy other iron sheets and re-roof my shed so that no one can lay claim that I owe them anything on my property,” he reportedly said.

According to Enanga, the task will be handled by a joint team comprised of officers from DPP, CID and State House Anti-Corruption Unit and shall expand on the preliminary inquiries so far conducted and further liaise with IGG and Parliament on the same matter.