The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has deferred the decision on the bail application made by the Minister for Karamoja Affairs Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu.  

She has been charged with causing loss of public property and conspiracy to defraud, according to the charge sheet that was presented before the court last week.

The charges are related to the alleged diversion of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people in the Karamoja sub-region. Court sent Dr. Kitutu back to Luzira prison until 14th April 2023 when a decision will be made on her bail application.

The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Dr. Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono, and her brother Micheal Naboya Kitutu were last week remanded to Luzira Prison by the Anti-Corruption Court on charges of causing loss of public property, corruption, and conspiracy to defraud the government.

Dr. Kitutu and her co-accused returned to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala for the hearing of their bail application. Some of her grounds included she is of the advanced age of 61, ill health, has a permanent residence in Bunga, Kampala, and also handed to court two land titles in Wakiso District.

Dr. Kitutu’s lawyers led by Micheal Wamasebu, a former deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), presented four sureties to the court, including her husband George Kitutu, Simon Mulongo former MP and diplomat at the African Union, Seith Wambede, the MP for Mbale City Northern Division and Dr. Joel Wandabwa a plastic surgeon.

Joan Aciro, the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate ruled that only one out of the four sureties was substantial to enable her to get released on bail.  

Magistrate Aciro said that she will reconsider the minister's bail application on Friday 14th April 2023 after she has had adequate time to review the lengthy bail arguments made by both Dr. Kitutu’s lawyers and the State.

Dr. Mary Gorreti Kitutu pleaded not guilty to all charges the first time she appeared in court last week.

According to the prosecution, between June 2022 and January 2023, Minister Kitutu allegedly took 9,000 iron sheets from the Prime Minister's Office to help the poor in Karamoja and instead distributed them to relatives and friends, selling some and giving others to ministers and MPs.

Dr. Kitutu is jointly charged with her younger brother Michael Naboya Kitutu and Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Cathy