By Ezrah Kashumbusha.
KAMPALA, March 19, 2024 | The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has decided to set free three suspects who were facing corruption charges alongside Karamoja Affairs Minister, Goretti Kitutu. The charges pertained to the mismanagement of Shs. 1.5 billion allocated for peacekeeping activities in the Karamoja sub-region.
The suspects whose charges were dropped include Godfrey Sseremba, Tracy Atuhirwe, and Deogratius Masagazi. The decision was announced by a prosecutor from the IGG’s office Miss Daisy Acio, before Senior Grade one Magistrate Albert Asiimwe, effectively discontinuing the charges against the three individuals.
With the dropping of charges against the three suspects, Goretti Kitutu remains the sole key figure facing the accusations. She stands accused of failing to conduct peacekeeping activities in the Karamoja sub-region between February and June 2022, during her tenure as Minister for Karamoja Affairs. This alleged failure resulted in the loss of Shs. 1.5 billion to the Ugandan government.
In response to the new developments, Jude Byamukama, Kitutu’s lawyer, requested a three-week adjournment, citing his client’s recent COVID-19 diagnosis and isolation since March 12, 2024. The court granted the request, adjourning the case to April 30th.
Expressing frustration with the IGG’s actions, court accused the institution of misusing the law to target individuals for personal gain. Byamukama condemned the perceived abuse of power, asserting that the IGG had disregarded his client’s due process rights in a bid to pursue baseless charges against her.
The IGG had implicated accountants in the Prime Minister’s Office for authorizing payments totaling Shs. 2.2 billion to various staff members, including Kitutu. However, during the court proceedings, the accused persons expressed gratitude and relief over the withdrawal of charges.
