Ezrah Kashumbusha.
KAMPALA, January 22, 2024 | The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Gorretti Kitutu, has filed a petition against the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Betty Kamya, and employees from the IGG’s office. The petition aims to prevent the prosecution of Kitutu over alleged mismanagement of supplementary funds meant to support Peace Building Activities in the Karamoja Sub Region.
High Court Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga has given Senior Presidential Advisor Vincent Kasujja and Senior State Attorney Jackie Amusugut a week to respond to the allegations. The judge emphasized the need for a fair and thorough examination of the case, urging the respondents to address the concerns raised in Kitutu’s petition.
Kitutu, represented by her lawyer Jude Byamukama, is seeking a declaration that the IGG’s actions, including summoning and initiating parallel criminal charges, violate her right to a fair hearing. Furthermore, Kitutu wants the court to declare that additional criminal proceedings related to the alleged mismanagement of funds violate due process.
The charges against Kitutu include corruption charges under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009, which carry severe penalties. The allegations state that Kitutu, along with other officials from the Prime Minister’s Office – Geoffrey Sseramba, Deogratius Masagazi, and Tracy Atuhirwe – caused a financial loss of 1.5 billion to the Government of Uganda between February and June 2022.
