Karamoja Iron Sheets Scandal: Court Convicts Agnes Nandutu, Sent To Luzira

By Swift Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Court has convicted former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu over the diversion of iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region.

The judgment, delivered on April 8, 2026, by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court of Uganda, was presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga. The court found Nandutu guilty of dealing with suspect government property.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the court established that Nandutu knowingly received and retained 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister,” despite having reason to believe they had been irregularly diverted from a government programme.

The iron sheets were part of a wider government initiative under the Office of the Prime Minister aimed at supporting vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region through disarmament and empowerment programmes funded by a supplementary budget of about Shs39.94 billion for the 2021/2022 financial year.

Court heard that the government had procured over 95,000 iron sheets, which were stored in Namanve for official distribution. However, evidence presented during trial showed that between June and July 2022, Nandutu facilitated the collection of 2,000 iron sheets from these stores.

Prosecution proved that she provided funds for transport and instructed her political assistant to pick up the materials, which were first taken to a private residence in Wakiso District for verification before being moved to her home in Seeta, Mukono District.

Investigations later recovered 1,617 iron sheets from her farm, leaving 383 unaccounted for.

The court ruled that Nandutu’s actions amounted to unlawful possession of suspect property, noting that she had reason to believe the items were not lawfully allocated to her.

Following the conviction, her bail was immediately cancelled, and she was remanded to Luzira Prison. She is expected to return to court on Friday this week for sentencing.

The case is part of a broader crackdown on the mismanagement of relief items intended for vulnerable communities, particularly in the Karamoja region, which has faced persistent humanitarian challenges.