State Minister for Finance and planning Amos Lugoloobi has decried selective prosecution by the Office of Director Public Prosecutions regarding the theft of Karamoja iron sheets.
In his sworn in testimony Lugoloobi told the Anti-Corruption Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga that he is not the only MP or minister who received the contentious iron sheets, that even after returning the said iron sheet to the OPM stores at Namanve as per the presidential directive, it’s only him, Agnes Nandutu and Mary Gorreth Kitutu who are being prosecuted for tampering with the Karamoja iron sheets.
The minster, who was being led by his lawyer John Isabirye said that the documents accompanying the contentious iron sheets from the OPM did not specify if they were meant for Karamoja region and he mistakenly took them to be under affirmative action and relief for Luweero foundation; being that the livelihood of his constituents in Ntenjeru North -Kayunga were also affected by the banana and coffee wilts.
Lugoloobi also told court he has never been employed by the office of the Prime Minister and neither has he ever been given guidelines on how some relief should be distributed or utilized when it’s given to him.
He denied ever having interaction with the OPM Under Secretary Godfrey Sseremba and Joshua Abaho , Kalema Fredrick and other State witnesses who testified in this case .
During his defence Lugoloobi mentioned dozens of names of other top Members of government, Parliament, and Ministers who also benefited from the iron sheets including Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, MP Agnes Kirabo, Oboth Oboth , Northern Uganda Minister Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny among others who don’t represent any constituency in Karamoja but were never charged in any courts of law.
He said that all the people he mentioned confessed publicly that they had received the iron sheets and the media also was awash with their stories but they were never charged.
Lugoloobi is accused of dealing with 700 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister between July 2022, February 2023 and March 2023 which were meant to benefit the vulnerable people of Karamoja.
Hearing of his defence was adjourned to 5th March, 2025.
The minister indicated that he will be calling witnesses to prove his innocence.#
Report by: Betty Zziwa
