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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 30176, member: 2262"] The Anti-Corruption court in Kampala sent criminal summons for Agnes Nandutu, who used to serve as state minister for Karamoja Affairs. She needs to answer for taking iron sheets that should have gone to people who needed them in Karamoja. Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga made this decision Friday after hearing from state attorney David Bisamunyu. He told the court Nandutu skipped her appearance even though medical reports say she can work despite being sick. Earlier, the court asked for someone to check Nandutu's health claims. The prosecution brought a full report from Nakasero Hospital showing she really is sick but can still handle work duties. The report suggested she avoid stress. The prosecution argued that her absence seemed like she just refused to come since the report said she could work. Judge Kajuga agreed with this view because Nandutu's lawyers failed to give good reasons for her missing court. She must appear on April 14, 2025, in the morning. The court wants Nandutu to defend herself against charges of dealing with suspect property. Late last year, the court found she had a case to answer. Court records show evidence that Nandutu received 2,000 iron sheets, confirmed by the first witness. She even took the police to her home where they found these sheets. Many witnesses testified during the trial, including staff from the Prime Minister's Office, but few knew where the iron sheets came from. The judge noted that Joshua Abaho, who worked as Minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono's personal assistant, gave more reliable testimony because he worked closely with the minister. Abaho said he gave iron sheets to Nandutu as instructed, though he missed the meeting about this decision. His statement contradicted the defense's claims that Nandutu knew nothing about these materials. Other witnesses, like Godfrey Sseremba from the Prime Minister's Office, testified but gave unclear information about where the sheets came from. The prosecution successfully argued that Nandutu attended the project launch to distribute these sheets. She knew nobody officially requested them, and no emergency justified giving them away. This proved she had no right to take 2,000 sheets for herself. The defense team tried to say the state failed to prove its case due to unreliable evidence. They claimed Nandutu committed no offense and should face no charges. The court disagreed, finding enough evidence that she had no right to those iron sheets. Judge Kajuga added that even without recovering sheets from her home, the evidence would still support criminal charges against her. The judge dismissed attempts to clear Nandutu and ordered her to present her defense. She faces charges of dealing in suspect property. Prosecutors say she privately handled government property 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets—between June and July 2022. They claim she received these sheets through loss of public property, breaking Section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Detective Superintendent Winfred Nakatudde testified they found 1,617 iron sheets at Nandutu's farm in Mukono, leaving 383 sheets missing. The farm manager told police he never counted them, so he couldn't explain where the rest went. Three cabinet ministers faced accusations in this scandal: Amos Lugoloobi returns to court in May 2025, Mary Gorreti Kitutu's trial stopped during her appeal about torture claims, and Agnes Nandutu. The Inspector General claims Kitutu failed to run peace activities in Karamoja between February and June 2022, which allegedly cost the government 1.5 billion Shillings. Nandutu becomes the second person with a case to answer about these iron sheets meant for vulnerable Karamoja residents. Last year, Lugoloobi also faced similar charges. The case continued on April 14. [/QUOTE]

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