The Anti-Corruption Court has remanded the Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Gorreti Kitutu Kimono and her brother Micheal Naboya Kitutu to Luzira Prison for causing loss of public property, corruption, and conspiracy to defraud the government.

Kitutu was arraigned before the Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Achiro on Thursday. 

Court heard that between the month of June 2022 and January 2023 at the office of the Prime Minister's Stores, Namanve in Mukono District, Kitutu caused loss of public property in form of 14,000 pre-painted Iron sheets of Gauge 28 by diverting them from the intended purpose of benefiting the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program to her own benefit and to the benefit of third parties having reason to believe that such action would lead into a loss of the said property.

It is also alleged that at the same time, her co-accused Naboya a Peasant farmer and a resident of Bukawekha Sub County Namisindwa District received 100 iron sheets yet they were stolen property.

Kitutu is implicated alongside Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary Ministry of Karamoja Affairs Office of the Prime Minister who did not appear in court.

Court has issued criminal summons against Abaho but Kitutu has denied the charges.

Her lawyers Jude Byamukama and Michael Wamasebu applied for bail on grounds that Kitutu is a Ugandan citizen aged 61 and therefore of advanced age and that she is a very prominent person having served in many respectful offices as a State Minister and now a Cabinet Minister.

Court also heard that Kitutu has a medical condition called hypertensive heart disease with left ventricle stiffness (HHDD) which was diagnosed on March 15th, 2023 by Dr. Charles Sendikadiwa of Mulago National Referral Hospital.

The court was also told that in the two days, Kitutu has spent in custody, her condition has worsened yet it is a threatening heart condition especially when she is under stress.

However, Assistant DPP Namatovu objected to the bail application relying on an affidavit sworn by Detective Muhammad Soweti one of the Investigating Officers.

Achiro remanded the two until April 12.