DPP condemned over decision to clear govt officials in Karamoja Iron Sheets saga

KABALE, UGANDA: A section of residents, human rights activities and legal practitioners in Kabale District has condemned the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions-DPP, Jane Frances Abodo to clear some high-profile government officials in the probe into the alleged theft and diversion of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people in Karamoja region.

Addressing journalists over the weekend, Abodo indicated that they discovered that 23 files were directly involving the diversion of iron sheets and were opened against several suspects.
She added that out of the 23, they screened the suspects and found that they did not have sufficient evidence to proceed with 17 case files of suspects.

According to the Executive Directive of Kick Corruption out of Uganda, Mr Kakuru Robert Byamugisha, the DPP’s decision is a direct indication of legal gaps in the institution saying that she proved incapacitated to make a decision.

Byamugisha now wants the President to quickly fulfil his political actions against the top government officials who allegedly mismanaged the iron sheets as promised.

The Central Division LC5 councillor Leopold Twesigye said that decision by the DPP was expected considering delays endured during the investigations and failure by the President to ask his ministers involved in the saga to step down as investigations continued.

He described the decision as unfortunate saying that it promotes impunity and corruption among the government officials.

A legal practitioner who talked to DailyExpress on condition of anonymity said that the DPP’s decision lacked enough examination saying that she needed no extra evidence to substantiate the charges against the officials other than individual admission from iron sheet receipts.

He added that the evidence she stood on to sanction charges against the three ministers in court should have been the same evidence to charge the remaining 17 ministers.

However, the Constitution gives the DPP mandate to reopen a closed case file once she gets evidence she deems sufficient to stand trial against a suspect.