The Court of Appeal in Kampala has halted the trial against former Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono in the case of causing financial loss of 1.5 billion shillings to the government which was meant for peace building activities.
Kitutu’s trial was halted by Justice Oscar Kihika after finding that she will suffer irreparable damages if the case proceeds when there is a pending appeal challenging its legality.
The former minister through her lawyers led by Jude Byamukama appealed to the Court of Appeal saying she was aggrieved by the decision of the Anti-Corruption Court Judge Jane Kajuga to decline to prohibit the Inspector General of Government Beti Olive Namisango Kamya from instituting additional charges against her stemming from one broad investigation concerning alleged mismanagement of a supplementary budget for Karamoja sub region in the financial year 2021/2022.
The lawyers contend that the charges instituted against Kitutu by the IGG manifestly violate her right to a fair trial as they arise out of the same broad investigation that led to the charges against her in the iron sheets case.
The IGG claims that between February and June 2022, while serving as Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Kitutu failed to conduct various peace-building activities in the Karamoja sub-region, resulting in a financial loss of Shillings 1.5 billion to the government.
The case which has been blocked had been adjourned to April 30th, 2024, for Kitutu’s prosecution and criminal summons issued against her.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who promised to take political action against his ministers after the mismanagement of iron sheets has since dropped Kitutu from Cabinet as well as her Junior Minister Agnes Nandutu whose trial is in advanced stages.
