KAMPALA, UGANDA: The State Minister for Planning, Mr Amos Lugoloobi has been denied bail by the Anti-Corruption Court and sent to Luzira Prison on remand until Thursday, April 20, 2023, over his alleged involvement in the mismanagement of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja sub-region.
Lugoloobi who was arrested on Friday as he was reportedly heading to Entebbe International Airport, spent the entire weekend in coolers at Kira Division Police Station until today when he appeared in court to take a plea on the charges.
Presiding over a filled courtroom on Monday afternoon, the acting Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One, Abert Asiimwe charged the minister with two counts of dealing with suspect property contrary to section 21(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The state prosecution told court that between July 14, 2022, and February 28, 2023, and February 1, 2023, and March 16, 2023, at OPM Stores in Namanve in Mukono District and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso District and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga District, Mr Lugoloobi dealt with government property including 700 pre-painted iron sheets having reason to believe that they were acquired as a result of loss of public property under section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The Ntenjeru North MP however denied any wrongdoings in the Karamoja Iron Sheets saga and pleaded not guilty to the charges slapped against him. “Your worship I have heard and understood the charges but I am not guilty,” Lugoloobi said before a filled courtroom on Monday afternoon.
The Minister’s legal team later applied for his release on bail and presented copies indicating his official occupation as a minister and Member of Parliament, as well as a photocopy of the accused’s certificate of title (block 261 plot 730 in Makindye division) and the presented the following sureties:
▪️ Mariam Naigaga, 44, a resident of Kawuku village in Makindye division. She is the woman MP for Namutumba district in Parliament and says she “has been a friend of the applicant for over ten years”.
▪️ James Kakooza, 61, a resident of Kizungu in Makindye division. He is a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and a former state minister for health.
▪️ Dr Kefa Kiwanuka, 64, a resident of Kalungu C village, Ggaba Ward in Makindye division. He is the MP of Kiboga East in Kiboga district. He has been a friend of the applicant for over 10 years.
▪️ Charles Paul Mugambwa, 82, a very close friend of the applicant. He was his best man on December 4, 1990, at the accused’s wedding. He is a resident of Kabawanga Zone, Buziga parish, Makindye. He is a former Ugandan ambassador to Brazil. He is currently engaged in the Real estate business.
▪️ Martin Ssekajja, 39, a resident of Nazareth Zone, Kyanja parish in Nakawa division. He is the head of operations at Uganda Security Printing Company and a business associate of the applicant.
▪️ Joseph Muvawala, the executive director of the National Planning Authority. He is a resident of Namugongo and the prime minister of the Busoga kingdom. He is a very close friend of the applicant.
▪️ Moses Karisa Kalangwa, aged 53. He is a senior businessman from Kayunga.
“I wish to submit that the accused is a Member of Parliament. He doesn’t only have responsibilities to his family but to the country as a whole. If he’s denied bail, his family, constituency and ministry will be affected,” Lugoloobi’s lawyer said.
But the prosecution objected to Lugoloobi’s bail claims, saying the sureties were not substantial and the minister was likely to flee the country.
However, Court denied to grant Mr Lugoloobi bail saying it needed more time to study the documents, especially those presented by the defence team.
“The allegation of health is something that should not be taken lightly” and there directs the security personnel to notify the prison authorities to take note of the minister’s health status and that doctors should attend to him until when he is next produced in court.”
The Anti-Corruption Court, therefore, decided that it will deliver its verdict on the accused minister’s bail application on Thursday (April 20) at noon and has remanded him to Luzira Prison until then.
In February, the minister admitted to having used some of the iron sheets to roof a shed for his goats on his farm in Misanga Village, Bbaale Sub-county in Kayunga District.
He, however, removed them after there was public outcry over the ministers who allegedly diverted the iron sheets.
Mr Lugoloobi is the second minister to be arrested over the mismanagement of the iron sheets after Karamoja Affairs Minister Dr Mary Goretti Kitutu.
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