Karamoja Affairs Minister Kitutu, brother granted bail

Kitutu’s sureties were bonded at sh200m, not cash, while her brother sh10m also not cash.

The magistrate said that since the prosecution did not object to the second set of sureties led by the Minister of State for the Elderly, Gidudu Mafabi, Court found them substantial.

Kitutu and her brother have been in jail for one week having been arrested after being charged by the Anti-Corruption Court.

She was charged with two accounts of causing loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud for her role in the iron sheets scandal.

Friday, 14 April’s ruling comes after she was denied bail on Wednesday, 12 and sent back to prison. Court ruled that three of her sureties, including her husband Michael George Kitutu, were not substantial.

The minister’s family, including her mother, nephew and brother, were in February 2023 found in possession of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region.

Kitutu, while appearing before the parliamentary presidential affairs committee for the second time apologized for the mishandling of the iron sheets. The minister said she was not given proper guidance on how to handle the distribution of the iron sheets.

“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 read.

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

Earlier, a list circulated of ministers and other Government officials who took the iron sheets scandal, circulated on social media. Some of the names include: finance minister Matia Kasaija, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, state minister for finance Amos Lugolobi, east African affairs and third deputy prime minister Rebecca Kadaga and state minister for Karamoja affairs Agnes Nandutu among others.