The trial of former Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu over the alleged diversion of government iron sheets has been further delayed, with the Anti-Corruption Court adjourning the case to October 12, 2026, pending a decision by the Court of Appeal. Kitutu and her former personal assistant Joshua Abaho appeared before Anti-Corruption Division Judge David Makumbi on Monday, while Kitutu’s brother Michael Naboya Kitutu, who is jointly charged with causing loss of public property, was absent.
Kitutu’s lawyer Jude Byamukama told court that Naboya, who resides in Namisindwa District, had been unable to attend because the document issued when his bail was last extended indicated that the case would return on September 31, 2026—a date that does not exist. Chief State Attorney Richard Birivimbuka asked the court to issue criminal summons requiring Naboya to appear and follow up on the case.
Judge Makumbi asked Byamukama about the status of Kitutu’s case before the Court of Appeal, where she is challenging an earlier decision dismissing her claim that her rights were violated during her arrest and investigation. Byamukama told the court that the appeal is pending judgment. The judge consequently adjourned the proceedings, saying the circumstances required the trial to wait for the Court of Appeal’s decision.
He directed Naboya’s lawyers to ensure that he attends the next session and extended bail for Kitutu and her co-accused until October 12. The case has stalled for nearly two years following Kitutu’s appeal, in which she alleges that her non-derogable rights were violated by state agents during her arrest and subsequent investigations. The prosecution alleges that between June 2022 and January 2023, at the Office of the Prime Minister’s stores in Namanve, Mukono District, Kitutu caused the loss of 9,000 pre-painted government iron sheets of Gauge 28 meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme by diverting them for her own benefit and that of third parties.
Kitutu and Abaho are also accused of diverting another 5,500 iron sheets in January 2023 for purposes unrelated to the programme. According to the prosecution, the iron sheets were under Abaho’s custody as Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs, but were allegedly diverted and ended up in the hands of third parties. The prosecution further alleges that Naboya received 100 of the iron sheets in Namisindwa District as part of those allegedly diverted by Kitutu and Abaho.
Kitutu challenged her prosecution in 2023, shortly after she was charged, alleging that she had been tortured while in state custody. In November 2023, however, Lady Justice Margaret Mutonyi Kajuga dismissed her application, finding that she had not presented substantial evidence to support the allegations and that parts of her testimony contained falsehoods.
The judge relied on what she described as consistent statements from police officers who denied that Kitutu had been subjected to torture or coercion. Kitutu, through lawyers led by Byamukama, appealed the decision and separately sought to have the criminal proceedings stayed pending determination of the appeal. In her appeal against the Attorney General, Kitutu alleges that on April 3, 2023, she received a telephone call from Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja directing her to meet the Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, Tom Magambo, to avoid embarrassment and a forceful arrest.
She says that upon reaching the CID headquarters at Kibuli, she was immediately arrested and interrogated by nine police officers who confiscated her phones. She further alleges that the following day she was taken to the Parliamentary Committee on Presidential Affairs, where she was forced to take an oath despite allegedly being denied access to her lawyers.
Kitutu also alleges that she was held in police custody for three days without food or water and subjected to torture, including being blindfolded and driven to Kayunga District in an attempt to force her to confess to offences she had not committed. She further alleges that state agents conducted a targeted media campaign against her and made prejudicial statements through the media and social media platforms.
Kitutu contends that the actions of state agents were intended to deny her a fair hearing and portray her as a criminal in the public domain. She also argues that the State violated her rights by failing to disclose exculpatory exhibits and documents that she says are relevant to her defence. She is asking the Court of Appeal to dismiss the charges based on the alleged violations.
Kitutu is now the only former minister still facing prosecution in connection with the iron sheets scandal. Her then junior minister, Agnes Nandutu, was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison earlier this year over similar charges, while former State Minister for Economic Planning Amos Lugolobi was acquitted. Nandutu previously blamed Kitutu for failing to guide her when she was still a junior minister in charge of Karamoja Affairs-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
