The Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo has remanded Amos Lugoloobi, the State Minister for Finance, to Luzira Prison until April 20.
Lugoloobi was charged with two counts of dealing with suspicious property in violation of section 21(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act on Monday afternoon when he was arraigned in court.
He was detained at Kira Division Police in the Wakiso area on Friday after being taken into custody in connection with the misuse of iron sheets intended for vulnerable persons in Karamoja.
According to the prosecution, Lugoloobi allegedly dealt with government property, including 700 pre-painted iron sheets, between July 14, 2022 and February 28, 2023, and between February 1, 2023, and March 16, 2023 at the Office of the Prime Minister stores in Namanve at various locations in Matugga and Kayunga, having reason to believe that they were acquired as a result of the loss of public property under section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The presiding magistrate reasoned that before deciding whether to grant the minister’s bail, he needed to carefully consider all the material presented by the prosecution and the defense.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister for Karamoja, was accused last week with corruption and causing the government to lose money due to the iron sheet scam.
The iron sheets intended for Karamoja should be returned, according to President Yoweri Museveni, or their equivalent should be paid in cash.
He continued by saying that charges had to be brought against anyone who used them for their own benefit.
