Uganda ex-minister sentenced to four years in corruption scandal

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KAMPALA: Agnes Nandutu, the former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Kampala. The sentencing follows her conviction on charges of dealing with suspect property, specifically the illegal acquisition and possession of 2,000 government-owned iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities. 

This landmark ruling marks a significant escalation in the legal consequences surrounding the broader Karamoja relief scandal that has implicated several high-ranking officials.

Justice Jane Okuo’s judgment underscored the severe breach of public trust, noting that the materials were part of a Shs39.9 billion affirmative action program for the Karamoja sub-region. 

The court found that Nandutu had stored the iron sheets at her private farm in Mukono for nine months instead of distributing them to the intended beneficiaries. Consequently, the judge ordered a custodial sentence, while clarifying that the time Nandutu spent on remand would be deducted from her four-year term.

The legal fallout extends beyond imprisonment, as the conviction carries a mandatory ten-year ban on holding any public office. This provision effectively ends Nandutu’s tenure as the Bududa District Woman MP and disqualifies her from government service or elective politics until 2036. The court also directed that all recovered iron sheets be returned to the government to ensure they finally reach the impoverished citizens for whom they were originally purchased.

Despite an emotional mitigation plea where Nandutu cited failing health due to lung complications and her role as a single mother, the court maintained that the gravity of the offense necessitated a firm response. 

The prosecution had argued that as a minister, she had a duty to protect public resources rather than divert them for personal gain. By upholding the four-year sentence, the judiciary has sent a clear message regarding accountability and the management of humanitarian aid in Uganda.