Ezrah Kashumbusha
KAMPALA, January 17 | The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued criminal summons to Mary Gorretti Kitutu, the Minister of Karamoja Affairs, along with Geoffrey Sseremba, Deogratius Masagazi, and Tracy Atuhirwe, who work in the Office of the Prime Minister. The charges are related to causing government financial loss amounting to 1.5 billion shillings.
Minister Kitutu and her co-accused are scheduled to appear in court on February 29, 2024, to face the charges. The allegations state that between February and June 2022, while performing her duties for Karamoja Affairs, the minister neglected various peace-building activities in the Karamoja sub-region, willfully causing financial loss to the government.
This comes at a time when the Director of Public Prosecutions is already prosecuting the minister on separate charges related to the diversion of 14,500 iron sheets intended for the vulnerable population of Karamoja.
The legal proceedings highlight the growing scrutiny on government officials and the commitment to accountability and transparency in public office. The Anti-Corruption Court’s issuance of criminal summons emphasizes the importance of addressing financial impropriety and ensuring responsible governance.
The court appearance scheduled for February will shed light on the specific details of the alleged financial loss and provide an opportunity for the accused to answer to the charges.
