September 30, 2023
KAMPALA, Uganda | Dr. Mary Gorretti Kitutu, the Minister of Karamoja Affairs and Member of Parliament for Manafwa District, has approached the court seeking permission to travel abroad for official duties. Dr. Kitutu, currently facing corruption-related charges regarding the loss of 9,000 iron sheets meant for vulnerable individuals in her constituency, has expressed her intent to fulfill her responsibilities as a cabinet minister and an elected representative.
In her application to the court, Dr. Kitutu, represented by her legal team, explained that she has received formal invitations and clearance from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for 13 days. Her trip is scheduled from November 23 to December 5, 2023, to attend the Inzu Masaaba-UK’s 10th-year anniversary celebration.
Additionally, Dr. Kitutu has been nominated by the National Focal Point (NFP) to attend the meeting session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for 18 days, from November 24 to December 12, 2023.
In her application, Dr. Kitutu emphasized the significance of these high-level meetings and her official duties, which often require her to travel abroad. She assured the court of her commitment to abide by her bail terms and conditions, underscoring her intent to return to Uganda after fulfilling her duties as a cabinet minister.
The court documents reveal that the Attorney General, who is the respondent in this application, will not be prejudiced if the court grants Dr. Kitutu permission to travel as necessary.
However, the prosecution, led by Jonathan Muwaganya, presented an affidavit from Ms. Safina Bireka, a senior state attorney, opposing the minister’s request. Bireka argued that Dr. Kitutu had filed an application alleging human rights violations, which is still pending determination. She pointed out that the trial court has a 90-day time frame from the date of filing such cases to return a ruling, with a deadline of November 10, 2023.
The trial judge, Jane Kajuga, has scheduled October 3 for the ruling on this matter, a decision that will play a pivotal role in determining whether Dr. Kitutu can travel abroad while the corruption trial continues.
