The State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, will have to wait for another day after the High Court judge at the Anti-Corruption Division in Kampala deferred the decision on her bail application.  

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga said that she will need a few more hours to scrutinize the documents tabled in support of the Hon. Nandutu’s bail application.  

The minister is battling charges related to dealing with 2,000 iron sheets which were irregularly acquired and believed to be from proceeds of crime and causing financial loss to the government.

About two weeks ago when the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, was committed to the High Court Anti-Corruption Division for trial, she was not given a chance to apply for bail like her counterparts, including the senior Minister for Karamoja Affairs Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu and State Minister for Finance in charge of Planning, Amos Lugoloobi.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Justice Jane Frances Abodo said that investigations into the Hon. Nandutu’s case, unlike for the two other ministers who were before the Chief Magistrates Court in the Anti-Corruption Division, were complete and she was accordingly sent to High Court for trial.

The judge ruled that the matters of disclosure should be concluded by 5th May 2023. The pretrial disclosure is aimed to facilitate preliminary hearings while the trial will be fixed on 25th May 2023.

Justice Okuo is expected to give her verdict on Hon. Nandutu’s bail application Thursday on 4th May 2023.

The Hon. Nandutu, who is also the Bududa District Woman MP, Nandutu was appointed the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs on 2 1st June 2021 by President Yoweri Museveni.

She is among the ministers implicated in the abuse of iron sheets meant for a youth empowerment programme in the Karamoja region.

Gloria Irankunda