It’s alleged that the Minister for Karamoja affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu was involved in theft and abuse of office by violating the process of distribution of iron sheets which led to the arrest of some family members who were suspected to be beneficiaries. Office of the Prime Minister had secured iron sheets through affirmative action programmes to Karamoja, Teso, Northern Uganda, Luwero Triangle, Bunyoro and the department of Disaster Preparedness and Management. On that note, the MP’s of Karamoja region coupled with several other MPs have tabled a Censure against the Minister. It has become rather common that Ministers not delivering services as expected are censured.
The iron sheets were initially procured to support livelihoods of the vulnerable and social infrastructure in impoverished communities. It has however surprised and overwhelmed the nation that ministers and government officials are involved in the saga as beneficiaries. Though many have accepted receiving iron sheets, they claim they got them without requisitioning.
Minister Moriku Kaducu got 200, Rebecca Kagada 500, Jacob Oboth Oboth 300 among other other Ministers. Rt. Hon. Speaker Among directed the House on Monday that whoever is involved in the saga must be punished and tells hon. Goretti Kitutu to carry her cross not to drag other ministers into it.
Much as OPM suspended the distribution, a total of 84,697 out of the 173,665 iron sheets procured were already distributed though beneficiaries questioned. Mr. Geoffrey Sseremba, the Undersecretary and Accounting Officer at OPM explained that distribution will resume as soon as investigations into the matter is concluded.
