MPs want Karamoja Minister Kitutu censured

The legislators include: Peter Lochap of Bukora east, Chekwii county’s Moses Aleper, Faith Nakut representing Napak district, John Bosco Ngoya from Bukora county, and Norman Ochero for Labwor county.

They cite article 118 that gives grounds under which a minister can be censured

“The Minister for Karamoja Affairs has failed to deliver iron sheets and other supplies meant for Karamoja to support the ongoing disarmament exercise. These supplies were financed through the supplementary budget that Parliament passed in Dec 2021,” a letter from the MPs reads in part.

The legislators made the remarks in relation to the recent iron sheets scandal that has rocked the Office of the Prime Minister.

According to recent reports, iron sheets that were procured to support the vulnerable in Karamoja Region allegedly ended up in Kitutu’s home.

While appearing on current affairs talk show on one of the local television channels, the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, defended the ministers who appeared on a list of those who received iron sheets allegedly meant for Karamoja relief, saying those are were not the same iron sheets that were meant for Karamoja.

 “It is true the Vice President took iron sheets, aren’t there vulnerable people in Katakwi? I took iron sheets to Kakumiro, are there no vulnerable people in Kakumiro? People are receiving these iron sheets, so let us investigate those that have not reached the people,” she said.

Nabbanja refuted claims that she used iron sheets to roof her hotel in Kakumiro.

“Saying I used government iron sheets on my hotels isn’t right. I built my first hotel in 2003 and another in 2009,” she said.

According to Nabbanja, the iron sheets have been coming from different donors and funders, and different officials have been asking for them so as to support their vulnerable communities.

“People have been taking iron sheets for a long time, in a transparent process through proper assessment, it is not a new thing. We have been distributing iron sheets for quite long. We should not bundle these to the Karamoja issue,” she said.