After Kitutu, focus turns to Alupo, Nabbanja in iron sheets scandal
Alupo said the idea of receiving the iron sheets initially came from Kitutu. The arrangements were coordinated between her personal assistant and another technical person, who was at the helm of distributing the iron sheets.
Investigation into the misappropriation of iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub region Thursday saw the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Goretti Kimono Kitutu and her brother Micheal Naboya Kitutu, remanded to Luzira Prisong until 12th April.
The two failed to secure bail from the Anti-Corruption Court. Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro remanded them for allegedly diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme. Aciro said she needed sufficient time to scrutinize the bail application of Kitutu and Naboya.
And now that Kitutu is remanded, the investigation by Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee is utilising the final days to interface with top government leaders implicated in the saga.
The committee on Wednesday met with Vice President Jessica Alupo at her office in Kampala.
Alupo informed committee members that upon her return from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, slightly a month ago, she was shocked to learn that her name was among the beneficiaries of iron sheets.
The committee chairperson, Jesca Ababiku (Adjumani MP), took the liberty to inform Alupo that previous records show that she was accorded 500 iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for the Financial Year 2022/2023.
“Upon learning that my name was on the list, I rang the Prime Minister and asked whether the iron sheets that were distributed were either meant for the Karachunas (youth) or were the normal iron sheets that [the office] often distributed [to ministers to support initiatives in their home constituencies],” Alupo said.
In part of Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja’s responses, she informed Alupo that a written elaborate report clarifying the issues had been presented to the President, which [report] she has not personally seen.
Alupo said the idea of receiving the iron sheets initially came from Kitutu. The arrangements were coordinated between her personal assistant and another technical person, who was at the helm of distributing the iron sheets.
