Politics 9 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Nandutu Convicted in Iron Sheets Scandal: Selective Justice or Sacrificial Lamb?
Former State Minister Agnes Nandutu has been found guilty by the Anti-Corruption Court of diverting government iron sheets meant for Karamoja's vulnerable communities, becoming the only senior official convicted in a scandal that implicated dozens of high-ranking figures. Critics question why others, including top leaders, face no prosecution despite initial investigations targeting 22 ministers, 31 MPs, and 13 CAOs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/is-nandutu-a-sacrificial-lamb-as-other-iron-sheet-suspects-walk-free--5418250
The Anti-Corruption Court has convicted ex-State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu for diverting thousands of metal roofing sheets procured under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme. These sheets were intended to aid vulnerable residents during disarmament efforts.
Her guilty verdict, delivered three years after her 2023 court debut, marks her as the sole senior government figure held accountable in this major scandal. The court ruled she knowingly retained irregularly diverted public property, revoked her bail, and remanded her to Luzira Prison pending sentencing, where she risks up to seven years imprisonment.
The case first exploded in 2023, with the Inspectorate of Government summoning at least 22 ministers, 31 MPs, and 13 Chief Administrative Officers to account for the sheets’ disappearance. High-profile names like Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Rebecca Kadaga, and Matia Kasaija were linked, though many returned the items without charges.
Only three cases reached court: Nandutu’s, Mary Goretti Kitutu’s (halted by a Constitutional Court petition), and Amos Lugoloobi’s (charges dropped). This has ignited accusations of selective prosecution from activists and analysts.
Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda’s Marlon Agaba called Nandutu a ‘sacrificial lamb,’ noting most implicated politicians escaped justice. Former minister Miria Matembe decried the inconsistency, warning it distorts the scandal’s history to focus solely on Nandutu.
Experts like lawyer Jackie Asiimwe and policy analyst Timothy Chemonges argue uniform accountability is essential for credibility and deterrence. Godber Tumushabe suggested Nandutu’s media exposure may have made her a target amid widespread culpability.
The ruling underscores ongoing debates about handling corruption involving top officials, potentially eroding public trust if prosecutions remain uneven.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)