Kampala, Uganda – The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued criminal summons against former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. Agnes Nandutu, in connection with the long-running iron sheets scandal.
Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga issued the summons following a request from a State Attorney, who accused Nandutu of repeatedly failing to appear in court to face charges.
The court now demands her appearance to answer for her alleged role in the misappropriation of relief items, which were meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja.
The case stems from a nationwide corruption probe into the diversion of government-supplied iron sheets. Nandutu is one of several high-profile figures, alongside ministers and senior officials, accused of wrongfully benefiting from materials meant for resettling impoverished communities in the drought-stricken Karamoja sub-region.
In April 2023, the Inspectorate of Government and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) began tightening the noose around political elites implicated in the scandal.
Court records show that Nandutu was already under scrutiny, with prior interrogations and caution statements recorded. However, her persistent absence from subsequent court sessions triggered this latest action.
“The accused has a case to answer,” said Justice Kajuga during yesterday’s proceedings. “The continued failure to appear demonstrates disregard for the judicial process and will not be tolerated.”
These ruling paves the way for a possible arrest should Nandutu fail to honour the summons, with legal analysts saying she risks a warrant of arrest if she remains noncompliant.
If convicted, Nandutu could face penalties ranging from heavy fines to imprisonment, alongside disqualification from holding public office.
The charges are not only legal but also politically explosive, as Uganda braces for the 2026 general elections, where transparency and anti-corruption rhetoric are taking centre stage.
Civil society groups and anti-graft activists have welcomed the move, urging the judiciary to uphold the principle of equal justice regardless of status or political affiliation.
“This is not just about iron sheets, it’s about public trust,” remarked rights activist Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of CEPA. “Officials must be held accountable when they divert resources from Uganda’s most vulnerable.”
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