Agnes Nandutu, Uganda’s embattled former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, stood before the Anti-Corruption Court this week, not as a defiant politician but as a self-described victim of a broken system.
Her testimony, part of an ongoing trial over the misallocation of 2,000 iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the north-eastern Karamoja region painted a vivid picture of a first-time minister navigating Uganda’s murky political waters, where good intentions collide with systemic dysfunction.
Nandutu’s case is more than a corruption scandal; it’s a lens into Uganda’s governance challenges, where accountability is elusive, and political survival often trumps public service.
Nandutu’s defense pivots on two key claims insisting that the iron sheets were destined for Bududa, a district ravaged by landslides, where displaced families sheltered in churches and schools.
“I took them to help my people,” she testified, framing her actions as unselfish.
She also described a chaotic distribution process, no formal handover, unclear instructions, and pressure to “get transport yourself.”
Delegating the task to an assistant, she argued, led to unintended mix-ups, including sheets mistakenly sent to Manafwa District.
Yet, the prosecution sees a darker tale of high-profile officials diverting resources meant for Karamoja’s impoverished Karachuna youth rehabilitation project. The scandal erupted when iron sheets appeared in ministers’ private homes, sparking public outrage and a presidential directive to return or pay for the sheets.
Nandutu’s portrayal of herself as a beginner trapped in political power plays echoes broader critiques of Uganda’s governance.
Analysts note that under President Yoweri Museveni’s 40-year rule, benefaction networks often override formal systems. The NRM government, once praised for grassroots reforms, now faces accusations of centralized control and corruption.
Her testimony inadvertently highlights systemic flaws like no clear protocols for resource distribution, enabling misuse.
Nandutu claims she was unfairly singled out while other ministers justified their allocations, she also cited ongoing treatment for blood clots, suggesting her capacity was compromised, a detail that humanizes her but also raises questions about ministerial accountability.
Her case also reflects gendered dynamics in Ugandan politics. Female ministers often face heightened scrutiny, balancing community expectations with male-dominated power structures.
Uganda’s political machinery thrives on uncertainty where the line between victim and villain blurs, and scandals reveal deeper fractures in the state’s promise to its people.
The incident saw the arrests of ministers including Goretti Kitutu (Karamjoa Affairs), Amos Lugolobi, (state for planning) and Agnes Nandutu (state for Karamoja).
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