By Our Reporter
The conviction former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu has drawn mixed reaction from the public some are looking at the issue as a sacrifice for the ruling party cadre, while others say this is impunity and hypocrisy of the highest order given the fact that there were other very high ranking government officials and other ministers who also enjoyed the Mabaati bonanza but where exergonerated.
Ronald Yiga a senior lawyer who is a Democratic Member explained the incident as unfortunate saying this has set a very bad precedent given the fact that other culprits involved in the saga are left to go scot-free.
Counsel Yiga argued that this was a mere sacrifice but not willingness to fight corruption per say when other thieves are being spared.
“In a country where there are leaders with integrity all persons who were involved in the Karamoja Mabaati say should have resigned or forced to resign,’’ Counsel Yiga argued
The former Kampala Woman MP aspirant Christine Nantege who contested the post on UPC ticket said that the since the convict isn’t complaining while others involved are going scot-free is an indication of a planned move just to show the public that government is fighting corruption.
“ If government is really committed to fighting corruption tendencies, she should also net the the finance Minister Matia Kasaija his junior Amos Lugoloobi and others involved,’’ Nantege said.
Nandutu, has been sentenced to four years in Jail in a landmark ruling that lays bare Uganda’s enduring struggle with high-level corruption.
In a decision delivered by the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala, Nandutu was also barred from holding public office for 10 years — one of the most consequential punishments to emerge from the infamous Karamoja iron sheets scandal.
The court, presided over by Justice Jane Kajuga, found that Nandutu unlawfully received and retained 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region.
The iron sheets were part of a government programme under the Office of the Prime Minister intended to support disadvantaged households during Karamoja’s disarmament and recovery efforts. Instead, investigations revealed that the materials were diverted to politically connected individuals, sparking nationwide outrage.
Court records indicate that between June and July 2022, Nandutu received the iron sheets from government stores in Namanve and transported them to her private farm in Mukono District. The court ruled that, given her senior position, she “knew or ought to have known” that the materials were irregularly obtained.
In her defense, Nandutu claimed the iron sheets were meant for disaster relief in Bududa District. However, the court dismissed the argument, citing lack of documentation and no confirmation from local authorities.
Moments before sentencing, Nandutu apologized to the government and the country, pleading for a non-custodial sentence on grounds of ill health and family responsibilities. She told court she is a single mother supporting multiple dependants, including her elderly mother and school-going children.
Prosecution had pushed for a tougher sentence, arguing that the offence constituted a gross abuse of public trust and involved resources meant for some of Uganda’s most vulnerable citizens.
The ruling brings to a close a protracted legal battle that has come to symbolize systemic abuse of office within government ranks. The wider Karamoja iron sheets saga implicated several senior officials, though many cases stalled or never made it to full prosecution.
Nandutu’s conviction now sets a rare precedent — signaling that accountability, at least in this instance, has been pursued to its conclusion.
But the judgment also reopens debate about selective justice in Uganda’s anti-corruption fight, where scandals often generate political heat but rarely translate into convictions.
For observers, the bigger question remains whether this marks a genuine shift — or simply an isolated case in a system long accused of protecting the powerful.
As Nandutu begins her four-year sentence, the message from court is unmistakable: abuse of public office carries consequences — even if enforcement remains uneven.
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