The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has extended its criminal summons against Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu Kimono requiring her to appear in court on March 19th 2024 and be charged with causing government financial loss of 1.5 billion shillings.
The summons were on Thursday extended by Principal Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe after Kitutu failed to show up on medical grounds.
Kitutu’s lawyer Jude Byamukama told the Magistrate that his client is suffering from high blood pressure .
Court also extended summons against Kitutu’s Co accused Tracy Atuhirwe an Accountant from Office of the Prime Minister after the Prosecution led by William Moses Ntumwa informed the Court that although they extracted the summons, they have not been able to serve her.
In his ruling, Magistrate Asiimwe said although no man has control over sickness, he advised Kitutu’s lawyers to make sure that she attends the next court session.
He also directed the Prosecution to prepare committal papers if the matter will be handled by the High Court and inform his Court on the next session.
The Prosecution case is that between February and June, 2022 while performing her duties as Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Kitutu failed to conduct various peace building activities in the Karamoja sub region knowing or having reason to believe that her omission would cause financial loss 1.5 bn shillings to the Government of Uganda.
Kitutu is being charged together with Geoffrey Sseremba, the Secretary/Accounting Officer, Deogratius Masagazi – Under Secretary/Head of Department, Pacification and Development Programme all are officials from Office of the Prime Minister.
Evidence before Court indicates that when Kitutu was issued with Court summons, she choose to challenge her Prosecution and she wasn’t successful.
However she has since appealed against Lady Justice Kajuga ‘s decision that okayed her Prosecution in this separate case file from the iron sheets case.
