The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has halted the criminal trial against Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono in connection with iron sheets that were mentioning to benefit the vulnerable poor from Karamoja communities.
The court presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga stopped Kitutu’s trial pending determination of her appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging her prosecution on ground that she was tortured during her arrest .
Kitutu challenged the trial in 2023, shortly after she was charged for diverting over 10,000 iron sheets from the intended Karamoja Community Empowerment Program on grounds that she was tortured while in state custody and that her trial should instead be terminated that basis.
She is jointly accused with her brother Michael Naboya Kitutu and her Personal Assistant Joshua Abaho.
However, in November 2023, Justice Kajuga dismissed her application because it lacked substantial evidence and contained falsehoods.
Being dissatisfied with Justice Kajuga”s decision she ran to Court of Appeal to challenge it and also filed another seeking to stay proceedings in the High Court pending the determination of the appeal which Justice Kajuga granted today.
In her, ruling Justice Kajuga said that it is important to halt the trial awaiting the Court of Appeal decision such that they do not start it and then the Appellate Court rules otherwise.
