KAMPALA, Uganda | The Anti-Corruption Court has issued a criminal summons to former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu about the charges of receiving iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga on Friday issued a summons to Nandutu after a request by state Attorney David Bisamunyu told the court that Nandutu was absent in court despite a medical report indicating that although she is sick, she can work.

In the previous session, the prosecution requested a medical examination report for Nandutu to be examined. However, the prosecution came with a full report that indicated that the accused is indeed sick according to the records but is able to work. The report from Nakasero Hospital indicates that Nandutu should avoid stressful things.

Justice Kajuga was convinced that Nandutu’s lawyers had no justified reasons to warrant the accused not to appear in court today. She accordingly issued a criminal summons requiring Nandutu to appear on 14th April 2025 in the morning.

Records in court indicate that the prosecution presented evidence that Nandutu received 2000 iron sheets, which was corroborated by the first prosecution witness. Additionally, Nandutu took the police to her home, from where the said iron sheets were recovered.

Kajuga noted that Joshua Abaho, the personal assistant to the Cabinet Minister of Karamoja, Goreti Kitutu, was one of the witnesses who testified, and as a result, the judge said that Abaho’s testimony was deemed more reliable due to his proximity to the minister and his involvement in the distribution of the iron sheets, and he is the one who knew the origin.

Court also had that Abaho revealed that he was instructed to give iron sheets to Nandutu although he was not present at the meeting where the decision was made. The judge said that the testimony contradicted the defense’s claims that Nandutu did not know the iron sheets.

Other witnesses, including Godfrey Sseremba, the undersecretary from the prime minister’s office, testified but did not provide clear information about the origin of the iron sheets. However, it was Justice Kajuga’s findings that the prosecution argued that Nandutu attended the launch of the project for the distribution of the iron sheets and knew that there was no requisition made for the iron sheets and no reason for emergency distribution was sufficient evidence to prove that she was not entitled to the 200 iron sheets received.

The defense argued that the state failed to prove the elements of the case, citing unreliable and contradictory evidence. They claimed that there was commission of the offense and that Nandutu had no case to answer. However , the court found sufficient evidence to prove that Nandutu was not entitled to the iron sheets. They further said that even if the iron ironshhets had been recovered from Nandutu’s home, the evidence presented would still be sufficient to sustain a criminal charge against her.

Justice Kajuga dismissed the application seeking to acquit Nandutu and ordered her to start defending herself. Nandutu faces charges of dealing in suspect property, with the prosecution alleging she privately dealt with government property , including 200 pre-painted iron sheets, between June and July 2022.