President Museveni has denounced public officials named in the iron sheets scam, saying they indulged in subversion, undermined the country’s security and should be charged with theft.

Writing in an April 3 letter to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, the President also gave notice of looming, though unspecified, political action he plans to take against whoever participated in the ”theft” of iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja.

The brief has also been copied to Vice President, ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Members of Parliament.

Amongst those implicated are Vice President Jessica Alupo and Nabbanja herself -- suggesting that they too could find themselves at the receiving end of the promised political action.

The President also described the alleged theft as a form of corruption, warning that it has compromised security in Karamoja.

The President explained that giving iron sheets to Karimojong warriors was a part of efforts to help them settle down and stop causing insecurity.

In his letter, the President said those ministers who took the iron sheets for personal use cannot claim that they made a political mistake, insisting that “they engaged in theft and they should be handled by the police”.

It remains to be seen if President Museveni’s word will come to pass.