Former Minister Nandutu Found Guilty of Stealing Karamoja Iron Sheets

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1212 EAT on Thursday 9 April 2026

The Anti-Corruption Court has found former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, guilty of dealing in suspect property in a high-profile case involving the diversion of 2,000 iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in Karamoja.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga ruled that Nandutu “had sufficient reason to believe” the materials were obtained through a corrupt process, noting that the iron sheets were stored at her private farm for months instead of being distributed to those in need.

The court dismissed Nandutu’s defence that the sheets were meant for landslide victims in Bududa, citing a lack of documentation and credible authorisation. Evidence presented showed the iron sheets were earmarked under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program, and no formal request or allocation supported their diversion.

Claims of political miscommunication and alleged marginalisation within the ministry were also rejected.

Prosecutors demonstrated that Nandutu received the sheets in June 2022 but kept them with a political assistant for a month before moving them to her private farm.

Ledger extracts presented in court confirmed the sheets were marked for “vulnerable persons,” contradicting Nandutu’s claims they were destined for Bududa landslide victims.

The Anti-Corruption Court has convicted former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, for diverting 2,000 iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in Karamoja to her private farm.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga ruled that there was no formal request, allocation, or documentation justifying the release of the sheets to Bududa, as claimed by Nandutu.

The court dismissed her defence that political marginalisation and “bad blood” with senior minister Mary Goretti Kitutu prevented her from knowing the ministry’s operations.

Witnesses testified that Nandutu was fully briefed on the ministry’s budgets and programs, and that the delay in distributing the iron sheets from June 2022 until their recovery by police was “unjustifiable.” The judge noted that if the sheets were genuinely for disaster victims, they would not have been stored on private property for months.

Justice Okuo also highlighted inconsistencies in Nandutu’s defence, noting it was unlikely that Kitutu would hand over 2,000 iron sheets without formal paperwork if there were genuine animosity.

“The accused had more than sufficient reason to believe that the iron sheets were a result of diversion, which constitutes a corrupt act,” the judge stated, convicting Nandutu of dealing in suspect property under Section 21A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Nandutu was remanded to Luzira Prison and is set to be sentenced on Friday, April 10, 2026. Court assessors had previously advised that she be found guilty of receiving iron sheets meant for Karamoja’s most vulnerable residents.

-Observer

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