The Attorney General has asked the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala to dismiss the application in which the Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono is seeking to halt her trial in iron sheets scandal determination her appeal in which she alleges that she was tortured while in state custody.
In 2023, shortly after Kitutu was charged on an allegations of diverting over 10,000 prepainted iron sheets meant for Karamoja Community Empowerment Program for personal, she challenged the trial on grounds that she was tortured while in state custody allegedly by the police officers.
However, in November 2023, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga dismissed her application on grounds that it lacked substantial evidence and contained falsehoods.
Subsequently, Kitutu through her lawyers led by Jude Byamukama filed an appeal against the dismissal of her application, and also filed another seeking to stay proceedings in the High Court pending determination of the appeal.
However, the Attorney General while relying on an affidavit of Ann Kiiza a state Attorney in the office of the DPP said that the Ministers appeal has no likelihood of success and she has not brought sufficient evidence to demonstrate the likelihood of the appeal being rendered nugatory.
Kiiza insisted that the Constitution requires a fair, speedy and public trial in criminal matters and Kitutu will be granted them same because hearing of her case is on 12th, 14th and 15th February 2024.
The Government contends that the delaying the criminal trial will substantially affect the evidence inform of exhibits available which are likely to be tampered with and the witnesses comprised.
