Politics 10 April 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Agnes Nandutu Apologizes to Museveni for Iron Sheets Theft, Seeks Non-Prison Sentence
Former Karamoja Affairs Minister Agnes Nandutu tearfully apologized in Anti-Corruption Court to President Museveni and Karamoja residents for diverting iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities, pleading for a non-custodial sentence due to health issues and family duties. Prosecutors demanded five years in jail amid a scheduled ruling that afternoon. Source: https://observer.ug/news/nandutu-apologises-to-museveni-over-iron-sheets-theft-pleads-for-non-custodial-sentence
Former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu faced sentencing in Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court after her conviction for diverting iron sheets designated for needy families in Karamoja.
Nandutu, overcome with emotion, expressed remorse to President Museveni, the Karamoja community, and the nation. She claimed she was misled, promptly returned the sheets upon realizing their purpose, and compensated for any shortages in cash.
Her defense highlighted severe health struggles, including blood clots in her lungs that trigger sudden collapses. As a single mother to seven children and caregiver to her cancer-stricken 80-year-old mother—the last surviving child after her father’s death from case-related stress—she begged for leniency to support her family.
Prosecutors, led by Senior State Attorney Innocent Aleto, urged a harsh penalty: five years imprisonment, a 10-year ban from public office, and a Shs 3.2 million fine. They described the offense as deliberate and elaborate, with sheets hidden on her private farm for nine months to dodge detection, undermining public trust despite her clean record.
While state attorneys pushed for restitution, the defense noted full government compensation via recoveries and payments, even for sheets lost in police transit, rendering jail time excessive.
Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga promised a ruling after reviewing all arguments.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)