A day after police said it has completed inquiries into the multibillion Karamoja iron sheets scandal in which senior government officials have been named, a minister at the centre of the damaging affair yesterday refused to answer MPs’ questions under oath.
Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu was subsequently handed over to police Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) officers to record a statement even as a parallel ongoing inquiry by the House committee on Presidential Affairs gathered pace.
The Karamoja minister refused to respond to allegations that she irregularly shared with her colleagues thousands of iron sheets meant to help resettle Karimojong warriors.
When Ms Ababiku asked about her relatives’ involvement in the saga, Ms Kitutu simply responded that she didn’t know and didn’t have the information.
Ms Kitutu also declined to comment about recent claims by implicated ministers that they received iron sheets unsolicited from her
Her short responses irked the legislators who decided that the minister be placed under oath but she refused to take the oath, emphasising that she didn’t have any answer.
Having refused to take oath, Ms Ababiku directed that Kitutu record a statement with Parliament’s CID office.
After Ms Kitutu was escorted out of the afternoon meeting, the committee met some of the alleged non-intended beneficiaries, including the Government Chief Whip Dennis Hamson Obua; Karamoja Affairs junior minister Agnes Nandutu; State minister for Primary Education Joyce Moriku Kaducu; Ethics and Integrity minister Rose Lilly Akello and Lands minister Judith Nabakooba.
Separately, the committee’s chair, Ms Jesca Ababiku last evening told Endigyito radio that their planned meeting with Speaker Anita Among was called off and will be rescheduled.
Ms Among, Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, 22 ministers, 31 MPs and 13 district chief administrative officers have been implicated.
Weeks ago, Ms Among, who has previously denied any wrongdoing, bought 500 iron sheets to be returned to the Office of the Prime Minister.
