Mary Goretti Kitutu Kimono, a Ugandan cabinet minister, is to spend Easter in jail over a scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the north-eastern Karamoja region. Mrs Kitutu, the minister for the region, pleaded not guilty in court but was denied bail. She has been charged alongside her brother, Michael Naboya Kitutu, who pleaded not guilty to receiving 100 of the corrugated iron sheets.
At least 10 other senior government figures are alleged to have received some of the stolen corrugated iron, including the vice-president, the prime minister, the parliamentary Speaker, and other ministers. Some of them told a parliamentary committee investigating the corruption scandal involving 14,500 missing iron sheets that they had not asked for them. The prime minister has apologised and urged other officials to return the sheets. Speaker Anita Among told the house that she had returned the ones she had received.
Karamoja, a semi-arid north-eastern region of Uganda, has for decades faced persistent droughts and flooding when it rains, leaving many communities dependent on aid. Mrs Kitutu is accused of giving the roofing materials intended for Karamoja communities to her relatives and officials instead of distributing them to the vulnerable communities. Corruption scandals involving high-profile government officials are common in Uganda, but it is rare for them to resign or be sacked.
Mrs Kitutu rose to prominence as an environmental scientist and was involved in mapping her home region in Mt Elgon, which is prone to landslides. She became an MP in 2016 and has held other cabinet posts, including the energy and minerals portfolios. Her sister-in-law, niece, and daughter-in-law, all alleged to be involved in the scandal, are on the run.
The minister’s court appearance was highly anticipated. On arrival, she covered her head and face with a piece of cloth to shield herself from the clamouring media. Her lawyer had applied for bail, arguing that she was a high-profile senior citizen, had medical complications, and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses. However, the prosecution fought for her to remain in custody, telling the court that Mrs Kitutu had prevented her mother, in whose house some sheets were recovered, from recording a statement to the police. Communications Minister Chris Baryomunsi said any decision on Mrs Kitutu’s future would be taken after police investigations had been concluded.
The scandal involving the theft of roofing sheets intended for vulnerable communities has resulted in the imprisonment of a Ugandan cabinet minister. The trial continues, and while the defense argues Mrs Kitutu’s innocence, the prosecution fights for her to remain in custody. The case highlights the corruption and misconduct of high-ranking government officials and the need for accountability in Uganda