Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has today ordered the State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development Amos Lugoloobi to defend himself over alleged charges of in the iron sheet scandal.
The judge has ruled that the evidence by the eleven prosecution witness against the minister is sufficient and needs an explanation from him.
The judge ruled: “After examining the presented facts, I am satisfied that a prima facie case exists, necessitating the accused to explain his possession of the iron sheets intended for Karamoja. In conclusion, the state has provided evidence to satisfy each ingredient of the charged offenses. The state’s evidence was not manifestly unreliable, nor was it discredited by cross-examination. I find that the accused has a case to answer and he is accordingly placed on his defense in respect of the charges against him.”
Justice Kajuga also noted that the evidence of the investigating officers showed that when the investigations began the minister returned some of the iron sheets he had received to the stores of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The judgeheld that the eighth prosecution witness Daniel Mwanguzi a priest of the Church of Uganda testified that he received 300 iron sheets from the minister for roofing the church and that these were collected after investigations started.
It is prosecution case that on July 14, 2022 and February 2023 at OPM Stores in Namanve in Mukono District and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso District and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga District , Mr Lugoloobi dealt with government property, to wit; 400 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister” having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property,, an offence under section 10(1) o the Anti-Corruption Act.
It is further alleged that Mr Lugoloobi between February 1, 2023 and March 16, 2023 at OPM Stores in Namanve and at different places in Matugga, wakiso District and in Ntenjeru Constituency, Kayunga District dealt with suspect property, to wit; 300 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister”, having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offence under Section 10 (I) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
