By Mugisha Gilbert Karengye
The Minister of State for Defense and Veterans Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth has reported to the Criminal Investigations Directorate at Kibuli, Kampala to record an additional statement in regards to diversion of iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja sub region.
The mood at CID headquarters was by press time tense after the counterterrorism officers deployed in the premises ordered the minister’s military escorts to remain at the gate as detectives grill him.
He was by press time appearing before the Deputy CID director, Beata Chelimo.
He is among the senior government officials implicated in the scandal that has left President Museveni’s government struggling to save face amid public outcry over increasing corruption and abuse of office.
The iron sheets he had donated were reportedly picked last Thursday by his bodyguards from the church stores where they had been kept.
Three other ministers have so far been charged in court over the scandal and they include state Minister for planning, Amos Lugoloobi, Karamoja Affairs minister Mary Goretti Kitutu and her junior Agnes Nandutu.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala has granted bail to State Minister for planning, Amos Lugoloobi who has been on remand since Monday following his arrest over the Karamoja iron sheets scandal last Friday.
The Principal Senior Grade One Magistrate, Ebert Asiimwe granted Lugoolobi bail on conditions that he pays Shs10 million cash, surrenders the original title of one of his pieces of land to court and that he shall not leave Uganda without seeking permission from court.
He was also ordered to surrender his diplomatic passport before each of his seven sureties were bonded at Shs100 million not cash after court found them substantial.
Earlier, Lugoloobi who has been on remand for three days arrived at court to a crowd of supporters, mostly from his Ntenjeru North constituency which he represents in Parliament.
Seemingly uncomfortable with the crowd which consisted of the minister’s relatives and several government officials and politicians from Kayunga District, including the District Woman MP, Aidah Nantaba, the magistrate said “This is not about the power of numbers but rather the law noting that the crowds are not necessary now.
The court room was filled to capacity as the crowd waited for the outcome of the minister’s bail application outside the courtroom.
At least 20 ministers and about 35 legislators across the country are facing the heat over the Karamoja irons sheets, with the government struggling to save face over the scandal.
A number of senior ministers, including the Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, the speaker of Parliament Anita Among and the finance minister, Matia Kasaija are among the most senior ministers to have received the iron sheets.
