Iron sheets saga: MPs to visit Karamoja during investigations

The districts to be visited include: Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Kotido, and Napak These are the districts where most complaints about the mismanagement of relief items were raised.

The committee chairperson who also doubles as the Adjumani district Woman Representative, Jessica Ababiku, yesterday said they had virtually covered 60 percent of their investigations and would now go on the ground to cross-check the information that was available to them.

The MPs’ terms of reference include: Ascertaining allegations of the mismanagement of iron sheets, doing verification on the number of goats that were expected in Karamoja versus the actual cost implications as well as determining whether food items, specifically maize, were diverted to support other institutions.

The visit, which will last five days, follows last week’s session where the committee interfaced with various witnesses over the saga.

Karamoja Affairs minister, Mary Goretti Kitutu, her junior Agnes Nandutu, and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija all appeared before the committee.

Kitutu who has been under the spot light for the last one month publicly apologised for the diversion of iron sheets that were meant to benefit vulnerable people in the sub-region.

Kitutu made the apology while appearing before the Presidential Affairs Committee for the second time. The minister said she was not given proper guidance on how to handle the distribution of the iron sheets.

Kitutu’s apology comes after a recent report revealed that the iron sheets, which were supposed to be distributed to the vulnerable people in Karamoja, were instead given to government officials, including ministers.

“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 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 reads.