The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Jacquelyn Okui as said more suspects will be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption court in relation to the diversion of iron sheets.
This follows criticisms from a section of the public who questioned why other government officials implicated in the theft of the iron sheets were not arraigned in the Anti-Corruption Court alongside the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Gorreti Kitutu.
The Minister and her brother Michael Naboya on Thursday appeared before the Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Achiro and were remanded to jail until April 12th, 2023 for their respective roles in diverting 14,500 pre-painted iron sheets intended for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program.
In an interview with the Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Jacquelyn Okui, more suspects will be arraigned in Court for their different roles in the diversion of the iron sheets.
She said that the files have been split and will be taken to court separately.
“This is not selective prosecution. What has happened is that the case is being handled in Peace Meal. So this is just the first case file. There is a case file in respect of each suspect. The case file will be submitted by the Police to the office of the DPP for consideration as and when they conclude the investigations”, Okui said.
Okui added that Kitutu’s mother was supposed to have been put on the same file with the Minister but in the interest of Justice, the DPP decided not to charge her because of her advanced age. She is about 86 years.
According to sources privy to the investigations, more suspects will be arraigned in court next week after being summoned to report to the police.
In December 2021, Parliament passed a supplementary budget worth 39 billion Shillings to support various programs in Karamoja, including the purchase of 100,000 iron sheets, which are alleged to have been diverted.
Last month, the Karamoja Parliamentary group formally wrote to the Clerk of Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, notifying him of their intent to file a notice of motion for the censure of Minister Kitutu.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni days later directed the CID and the State House Anti-corruption Unit to jointly carry out investigations into the scandal, with the suspects recording statements at CID before the DPP took over the charges.
The Police have since announced that they were investigating 22 Ministers, 31 Members of Parliament, and 13 Chief Administrative Officers believed to have received the iron sheets.
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URN
There is some grey area
Yesterday as we watched the Parliament session, it became clear that there are many iron sheets in the store
In my peasant based mind I remembered a Bunch of Mattoke at the back of a Lorry, it was well wrapped with a name written on the cover.
If this wrapper got off, any one else could end up taking that bunch Matooke
The owner then had to settle for an.equally big bunch
It is true varieties of indigenous Matooke taste different, but they serve the same purpose
I think some of the problems that we are reflecting on are for those who handle issues in three dimensions
As we prepare for the rising of Jesus Christ let us get focused on searching for the equivalent of Kawempe Health center III ( it served a purpose, bottom line being Standard of care)
We keep talking of justice
Upgrading health center IIs to a higher level seems to be a big deal
But in a highly populated district
Health center IIIs had been located in certain areas ( based on criteria that is well described)
These were subsequently up graded, one to gender related issues, another to a regional medical facility, yet one possibly heath center IV will become a trauma centre
Else where in the country a health center III serves some purpose and is facilitated by government
Unless otherwise stated, the population, who were “lucky” enough to get the lower HCs upgrade to specialised unit, are expected to seek care from other facilities
The facilities do exist but are not public facilities.
Question: if one cannot afford a service in the facilities that offer what a health center IIi offers else where, is he receiving justice?
A sixteen year old paying 72,000/= for treatment of fever ( from a Non public HC III); maximum customer satisfaction but how many fit in that category?
They may not be complaining because nature determined their fate
The senile say no to this state of affairs for they lived in Uganda of “long ago”
much love from uganda congs thx for honouring my vote am yo fun🌹🌹