Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga of the High Court has conducted a site visit to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters in Kibuli as part of the ongoing legal proceedings involving former Karamoja Affairs State Minister Agnes Nandutu.
The Tuesday, July 31, 2024 visit was intended to inspect the number and condition of iron sheets central to the case.
Justice Kajuga was accompanied by a team including prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), defense attorneys representing Nandutu, and Nandutu herself. Senior police officer Winfred Nakatudde, who is part of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), was also present during the visit.
The case against Nandutu centers on allegations that she misappropriated iron sheets intended for relief efforts in the Karamoja region. According to Nakatudde, 2,000 iron sheets were initially allocated to Nandutu, but only 1,617 were recovered from her farm located in Mukono district. The whereabouts of the remaining 383 iron sheets are currently unknown.
Nakatudde’s testimony detailed that Nandutu had purportedly claimed the iron sheets were meant for victims of landslides in Bududa district. Nakatudde further explained that Evelyn Hilda Bazibu, who received the iron sheets on Nandutu’s behalf, had picked them up from the Office of the Prime Minister’s stores in Namanve, Mukono district.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorneys David Bisamunyu and Innocent Aleto, accuses Nandutu of knowingly handling the iron sheets, alleging that they were obtained through fraudulent means. Nandutu faces charges under Section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, which could result in a maximum prison sentence of seven years if she is found guilty.
In response to the prosecution’s claims, defense attorneys Charles Nandaah Wamukoota, John Nalela, Evans Ochieng, and Caleb Alaka are scheduled to cross-examine Nakatudde on August 9, 2024. As the case progresses, the court aims to clarify the fate of the missing iron sheets and establish the extent of Nandutu’s involvement in the alleged misappropriation.
