The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to expeditiously investigate the Ministers implicated in the mismanagement of iron sheets that were meant to benefit the impoverished people in Karamoja.

The revelation was made by Fred Enanga, the Spokesperson of the Uganda Police Force.

“The DPP asked the director CID and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to expand on the preliminary inquiries that have so far been done. They will work with sister agencies like the inspectorate of government and the parliamentary team investigating the matter,” Enanga said.

Yesterday, the Inspector General of Government-IGG Betty Kamya said they have embarked on investigating the case against several ministers.

“I wrote to all of them especially those who have been written about in the newspapers and those whose names have appeared on the distributions list in the Office of the Prime Minister. From the Vice president to the prime minister, ministers and other individuals,” she said.

She said the ministers will be required to explain whether they asked for them or not, and whether they followed the right procedures to get them.

Earlier this month, Kitutu confessed to diverting 3000 iron sheets that were meant for the unprivileged people in Karamoja.

Appearing before the Presidential Affairs Committee of Parliament Kitutu accepted responsibility for the mismanagement of iron sheets procured for the vulnerable in the sub-region.

“Some of the iron sheets were used to roof a boys’ dormitory in Situmi Primary School, Namisindwa district. The school lacked a store, hence storing them at a relative’s house,” she said.

She apologized to the committee and parliament noting that she was never guided about the project. Kitutu requested for 12,200 iron sheets to aid her in community mobilization and peace-building missions in Karamoja.

Her January 12, 2023, internal memo to the stores’ department at the OPM read in part, “During community mobilization and peace-building missions, I usually meet vulnerable groups and karuchunas (reformed warriors) who are willing to dissociate themselves from rustling. As part of my intervention, I will be distributing iron sheets to such special vulnerable groups.”

Last month, security operatives nabbed Cotilda Kitutu, Michael Nabwaya, and Julius Wabule. The accused are the mother, brother, and nephew of Minister Kitutu. The three were allegedly selling OPM-branded iron sheets to residents of Namisindwa district, in eastern Uganda.

Kitutu is among the top ministers who benefited from the iron sheets which were allegedly meant for people in Karamoja. The ministers involved in the scandal include; Rebecca Kadaga, Jacob Oboth Oboth, Hamson Obua, Amos Lugolobi, Matia Kasaija and others.

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Rt Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe was on Sunday, March 12 consecrated as the 6th Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese at St. Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano in Rukungiri Municipality.

Preaching at the event, Dr Archbishop Church of Uganda Dr. Stephen Kaziimba called on the Church Leaders and entire Christians to commit themselves to a united prayer in order to overcome the challenges they are faced with.

The Archbishop quoted from the Book of James 5:16 and emphasized how God’s Word tells us to pray without ceasing and also 2 Chronicles 7:14, says God will hear our prayer and bestow his favors and blessings upon all people.

Archbishop Kaziimba urged the Church Leaders to engage in intensive evangelism and mission because the gospel is needed now more than ever before.

“The gospel is needed to bring healing, reconciliation and restoration of faith in one True God and his saving power,” he said.

Archbishop Kaziimba also expressed fear that materialism is increasing with aggressiveness to dilute the Gospel, but God’s Word will endure all seasons, and further asked church members to engage in meaningful income-generating projects for the sustainability of Church Ministry and programs.

He urged the Christians to utilize the available Church land well make sure that their income sustains the Diocese otherwise some organizations will utilize the vulnerability to exploit them.

At the same event, Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi asked Asiimwe to create togetherness among Christians in the diocese through preaching the Gospel.

Orombi said that he got to know Bishop Asiimwe as a young man and saw in him a person passionate about evangelism and a rising star in him and he is now happy that the rising star has risen since his prophecy of him becoming a servant of God and a Bishop at most has come to pass.

Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi preaches during the service

Orombi asked the new bishop to become a leader who has got followers because any leader without a following will find him alone and asked to touch the hearts of the young generation who are being swayed away from the doctrine of good upbringing.

“Some parents are absent and they have failed to do their responsibilities and Satan is stealing them for bad vices like homosexuality,” Orombi said.

In his Charge, Bishop Asiimwe paid glowing tribute to the former Bishops of North Kigezi Diocese whom he thanked for leaving a firm foundation from where he will start.

He said that he will use the time he will be the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese to focus on evangelism with emphasis to expand the church both in numbers and infrastructure and also ensure promotion of family values.

“Prayer must be emphasised based on togetherness and unity…” Bishop Asiimwe said.

The Vice President of Uganda Rt Maj Jessica Alupo Epel who represented President Museveni at the event said that the Lord has chosen Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe to lead the people of North Kigezi to righteousness and thanked the House of Bishops for electing him.

Museveni in his message commended the Church of Uganda for its commitment to teaching the people on how they can improve their livelihoods and contribute to the development of the church and the country at large.

The President called on all the believers to support the new Bishop so that the Diocese can develop and thanked the caretaker Bishop Patrick Tugume Tusingwire for steering the Diocese following the death of the Late Bishop Magezi and hailed the Christians for their patience.

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Members of Parliament have adopted a recommendation by the House’s select committee, directing the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi to resign with immediate effect on account of abuse of office.

The select committee, chaired by Mbarara South Division Member of Parliament ,Mwine Mpaka investigated the alleged mismanagement of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and found that the minister’s actions in directing Shs6 billion to be availed to her ministry were irregular. 

The report, presented during plenary sitting on Wednesday, 01 March 2023 added that President Museveni should take keen interest in the conduct of the minister.

The report was adopted on Thursday, March 9, 2023 during plenary sitting chaired by Speaker, Anita Among.

The MPs said that the minister’s actions contravened the NSSF Act.

Aisha Kabanda (NUP, Butambala District) wondered how the minister was going to account for the Shs6 billion and yet according to the NSSF Act, she supervises the fund.

“Were you going to account for the Shs6 billion with your juniors,” asked Kabanda.

Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM, Lwemiyaga County) said that Parliament’s task is to prove beyond reasonable doubt if the minister was right or wrong to request for the money.

“Parliament must rise to the occasion. The minister said she performed her statutory duties in approving the budget but in her letter, she said that she received a budget proposal of Shs15 billion and she said that that out of Shs15 billion, can I have Shs6 billion for expanding the fund,” said Ssekikubo.

Dokolo District Woman Representative, Cecilia Ogwal urged her counterparts to make a decision based on the Public Finance Management Act which clearly stipulates budget initiation and implementation.

“There is a difference between originating and implementation. We should be clear on who initiates the budget so that nobody is seen as being victimised,” Cecilia Ogwal said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga said that the minister does not have the power to appropriate funds. 

“She is conveniently expanding the interpretation of the NSSF Act. Why did you think you can borrow the word appropriation to use the money for government work? NSSF funds are for private people who are saving their little money for a rainy day,” said Mpuuga.

He added that, ’we must clean this house [NSSF], we must give assurance and hope to the citizens. This entity has become over the years some people’s daily income’.

The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Henry Musasizi said that the request of the Shs6 billion was not approved by the Ministry of Finance.

“It came to our attention and we notified the minister [Amongi]. We held a meeting with her, gave her our opinion and we were against her request but she went ahead with her request,” Musasizi said.

Amongi however, said that she cannot resign based on a falsehood by the report and she maintained that the request of Shs6 billion was within the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act.

“I have been condemned without evidence, facts and reference to points of the law. In Fact I am being victimised yet I am the whistle-blower,” she said.

Amongi explained that her letter directing the appropriation of Shs6 billion was in exercise of ministerial power under Section 29 of the NSSF Act which gives her power to amend the budget.

“Activities of the Shs6 billion do not fall under the Ministry of Gender and I want to state that the new law introduced mid-term access and the law permits me to issue regulations for voluntary savings. I am required to carry out stakeholder engagements and I cannot do that alone,” she added.

Mwine Mpaka said that every recommendation in the report is backed by evidence.

“We believe we did this job to the best of our knowledge and we can defend all the recommendations,” said Mwine Mpaka.

MPs further agreed that the NSSF Board should be dissolved as recommended by the committee.

The House further adopted a recommendation that 24 board members who illegally received the 10 per cent contribution from NSSF should refund the money within seven working days after adoption of the report or face prosecution.

On January 19, 2023, the House resolved to institute a committee to inquire into the operations of NSSF, following reports of corruption and mismanagement of the Shs17.9 trillion fund.  

Lawmakers have adopted a recommendation by the House’s select committee, directing the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi to resign with immediate effect on account of abuse of office.

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