IGG Given Green Light To Prosecute Minister Kitutu
Feb. 19, 2024
Anti-Corruption Court Judge, Jane Kajuga has dismissed the application filed by the Minister In charge of Karamoja Affairs, Mary Gorreti Kitutu that sought to block the Inspectorate of Government (IG) from prosecuting her for the UGX 1.5 billion loss she allegedly caused to the Government of Uganda by failing to conduct various Peace Building Activities in Karamoja Sub-Region between February and June 2022.
This means that the Minister will now have to appear before the Magistrate Division of the Anti-Corruption Court on 29th February 2024 to answer to these pending criminal charges for which she was summoned.
Justice Kajuga ruled that she will not restrain the Inspector General of Government (IGG) from prosecuting the Minister and further concurred with the IGG that none of Kitutu's rights to a fair hearing were violated when both Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the IGG chose to prosecute her separately.
The Judge rather sympathised with Kitutu that she will incur more costs in defending herself for the separate criminal charges, but there is no law barring multiple trials as long as the offences were not committed in the course of the same transactions.
On 17th January 2024, Grade One Magistrate, Christopher Opit of the Anti-Corruption Court, issued Criminal Summons to Minister Kitutu requiring her to appear in Court on 29th February 2024 and face fresh charges of Causing Government a Financial Loss of UGX 1,555, 365,000.
It shall be remembered that Minister Kitutu is already under prosecution by the DPP, Justice Jane Frances Abodo, in this very Court for her role in the Loss of Public Property of 14,500 Iron Sheets meant for the Karamojong Community Empowerment Programme.
But the DPP trial has since been halted pending her appeal.
The IGG is also prosecuting the Accounting Officer, Sseremba Geoffrey and the Head of Department Pacification and Development Programme in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Deogratious Masagazi with corruption.
It is alleged that between February and June 2022, for purposes of illicitly obtaining benefits for themselves and Hon. Kitutu Mary Gorreti, they omitted to exercise due diligence/care when authorizing a total of UGX 2,230,291,000 to various staff within OPM.
Sseremba and Masagazi join Minister Kitutu and the Acting Head of Accounts at OPM, Atuhirwe Tracy.
The IGG alleges that Minister Kitutu between February and June 2022 while in performance of her duties, failed to conduct various peace building activities in Karamoja Sub-Region, knowing or having reason to believe that her omission would cause financial loss and indeed caused loss of UGX 1,555,365,000 to the Government of Uganda.
While the Acting Head of Accounts at OPM Atuhirwe Tracy who was also summoned with Kitutu, to appear and face corruption charges is accused of neglecting her duty when she failed to properly manage and ensure accountability for UGX 2.230,291,000 being funds that were meant for peace building activities in Karamoja Sub-Region.
She committed the offence between April and June 2022.