Minister Lugoloobi returned 600 iron sheets – Witness Says
The state minister for finance and planning Amos Lugoloobi, faces accusations of dealing with suspiciously acquired iron sheets intended for Karamoja, as per President Museveni’s directive. A witness however said that the minister returned the iron sheets to the Office of the Prime Minister’s (OPM) stores in Namanve, Mukono district.
600 iron sheets that were intended for the Karamoja sub-region were returned to the Office of the Prime Minister’s (OPM) stores in Namanve, Mukono district, according to a senior inventory management officer who testified on behalf of the state minister of finance, Amos Lugoloobi.
The minister returned the iron sheets per President Yoweri Museveni’s directive, Fredrick Kalema informed the Anti-Corruption Court chaired by Justice Margaret Tibulya on Thursday.
The witness also mentioned Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja among the ministers and lawmakers who accepted and returned the iron sheets.
The witness lists additional individuals as state minister for defense Jacob Oboth Oboth, third deputy prime minister Rukia Nakadama, minister of Karamoja affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu, and minister of finance Matia Kasaija.
Kalema informed the court that “Lugoloobi and others obeyed Museveni’s orders and returned the iron sheets.”
Lugoloobi allegedly received 600 iron sheets in two equal batches of 300, according to the witness.
He said that on July 15, 2022, the minister received the first shipment from the OPM under voucher number 8058, and on February 1, 2023, he received another batch under voucher number 8527.
The Ntenjeru North MP, Lugoloobi, is accused of violating Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act on two counts of dealing with suspicious property.
The offence elicits a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment, upon conviction.
According to the witness, 9,000 of the released iron sheets were distributed to several dignitaries and only 1,000 were sent to Karamoja.
The prosecution claims that Lugoloobi dealt with government property, specifically 300 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister,” between July 14, 2022, and February 28, 2023, at the OPM stores in Namanve, as well as at various locations in Matugga, Wakiso district, and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga district. The prosecution believes that Lugoloobi obtained the iron sheets as a result of the loss of public property, which is an offense under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The prosecution claims that Lugoloobi dealt with government property, specifically 300 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister,” between July 14, 2022, and February 28, 2023, at the OPM stores in Namanve, as well as at various locations in Matugga, Wakiso district, and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga district. The prosecution believes that Lugoloobi obtained the iron sheets as a result of the loss of public property, which is an offense under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
On the second count of dealing with suspect property, it is alleged that Lugoloobi between February 1, 2023 and March 16, 2023, at OPM stores Namanve, in the same places, dealt with suspect property, namely, 300 pre-painted iron sheets, having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of public loss of property.
