Politics 17 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Nandutu Convicted as Lone Fall Guy in Karamoja Iron Sheets Scandal
Former State Minister Agnes Nandutu has been sentenced to four years in prison for diverting iron sheets meant for Karamoja's vulnerable, while numerous high-profile figures implicated in the scandal escaped prosecution due to insufficient evidence or political influence. Critics argue this selective justice undermines public trust, leaving the saga unresolved until all involved are held accountable. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/nandutu-sacrificial-lamb-in-mabati-saga--5426650
The Karamoja iron sheets scandal, involving public resources diverted from impoverished communities to benefit the elite, has seen former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu convicted and jailed.
Nandutu, once a journalist and Bududa Woman MP, received a four-year sentence from Anti-Corruption Court Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga. She was found guilty of possessing 2,000 suspect iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister, with 1,617 recovered from her Mukono farm in 2023. Her claims that the sheets were for disaster relief in northern Uganda or Bududa failed to convince the court.
Investigations initially implicated 22 ministers, over 30 MPs, and several chief administrative officers. Many returned the sheets or provided explanations, avoiding charges as the Director of Public Prosecutions cited insufficient evidence.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister overseeing the program, faced scrutiny but emerged largely unscathed. Commentators describe Nandutu as a ‘sacrificial lamb,’ lacking the connections that shielded others.
This case highlights concerns over selective justice in Uganda, where equality before the law under Article 21 of the Constitution appears compromised by political clout. Until all implicated parties—big and small—are prosecuted, the scandal persists.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)