Minister Lugoloobi iron sheets trial flops 

The High court has further extended the bail for the state minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Amos Lugoloobi, who is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja.

His trial before the Anti-Corruption court on Tuesday flopped after lady justice Margaret Tibulya failed to show up. Prosecution alleges that Lugoloobi while at the Office of the Prime Minister stores in Namanve in Mukono district, and at different places in Matuga, Wakiso district, and Ntejeru North Constituency in Kayunga district dealt with 700 pre-painted iron sheets marked ‘Office of the Prime Minister’.

According to the prosecution, the iron sheets which were reportedly acquired as a result of loss of property were obtained in two phases – with one involving 400 iron sheets between July 14, 2022, and February 2023, and another batch of 300 iron sheets obtained between February 1, 2023, and March 16, 2023.

Yesterday Tuesday, both parties appeared before the acting senior principal grade one magistrate Abert Asiimwe. Prosecution led by state attorney Gloria Inzikuru asked for an adjournment saying that the judge is currently indisposed. In response, Lugoloobi’s lawyers John Isabirye and Tonny Tumukunde informed the court that their client who was present in court did not object to the adjournment.

Asiimwe adjourned the case to October 16. Lugoloobi was committed by the Chief Magistrate’s court last month to face trial after the completion of investigations into the charges against him. His passport was also returned to him after he asked the court to relax the bail terms against him.

He argued that he was a frequent traveler, representing Uganda abroad in several official meetings, and therefore wanted it to be easier for him to secure visas instead of going to court to ask for permission whenever he wanted to travel.

Deputy registrar Pamela Lamunu Ocaya found Lugoloobi’s arguments to be valid and allowed his request on grounds that his lawyers have to inform court whenever he is to travel. Lugoloobi faces a seven-year jail term or a fine not exceeding 160 currency points (about Shs 3.2 million) or both, upon conviction.

He is among the three ministers facing trial before the Anti-Corruption court over the Karamoja iron sheets scandal. The others include state minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu and her senior minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu who is jointly charged with her brother Michael Naboya Kitutu on six charges related to causing loss of property and conspiracy to defraud the government of Uganda.

Other 17 top politicians including MPs and ministers, speaker of parliament, and the vice president who were initially implicated in the scandal have since had their case files closed by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo for lack of sufficient evidence.