Following his arrest in connection with the Karamoja iron sheets affair, State Minister for Planning Amos Lugoloobi has been confined to Luzira Prison until April 20, when he is anticipated to appear in court once more.
Mr. Lugoloobi was detained on Friday In relation to the misuse of iron sheets intended for the Karachunas (young warriors) in Karamoja.
Security personnel reportedly stopped him on his way to Entebbe International Airport on Friday. He was then transported to Kira Division Police Station, where he was held over the weekend until he was charged on Monday.
He was charged with two counts of dealing with questionable property in violation of Sections 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act before the Anti-Corruption Court, which was presided over by Mr. Ebert Asiimwe, the acting chief senior Grade One Magistrate.
According to the state prosecution, Mr. Lugoloobi dealt with government property between July 14, 2022, and February 20, 2023 at OPM Stores in Namanve, Mukono District, and at various locations in Matugga, Wakiso District, and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga District.
In the second account, the prosecution said Mr Lugoloobi between February 1 2023 and March 16, 2023 at OPM Stores in Namanve and at different places in Matugga, wakiso District and in Ntenjeru Constituency, Kayunga District dealt with suspect property, to wit; 300 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister”, having reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offence under Section 10 (I) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The minister entered a not guilty plea to each charge.
The magistrate’s assertion that he needed more time to review the court-received paperwork that the Ntenjeru North MP’s attorneys had provided dealt a blow to the MP’s bid to apply for release.
The length of the attorneys’ statements prevented Mr. Asiimwe from rendering a decision on Monday, claiming that some topics could not be taken for granted.
The minister was consequently sent to Luzira prison until Thursday, April 20, 2023, when he will be brought before a judge for a bail hearing.
According to reports, Mr. Lugoloobi, who is also the MP for Ntenjeru North County, received 600 iron sheets intended for the weaker residents of Karamoja Sub-region.
He was one of the ministers who, on Friday, sent iron sheets back to the Prime Minister’s Office in Namanve as instructed by President Museveni, who had instructed his ministers to either return the iron sheets or pay the equivalent in cash.
The minister in febrauary acknowledged using some of the iron sheets to cover a goat shed on his farm in Misanga Village, Bbaale Sub-county, Kayunga District
But after a public outcry over the ministers who were reportedly involved in diverting the iron sheets, he took them down.
Mr. Lugoloobi, who is known to his Kayunga people as taata bisode, is the second minister to be detained in connection with the improper handling of construction supplies.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister in charge of Karamoja Affairs who is at the center of the controversy, was freed last Friday on a Shs10 million cash bail after spending a week in Luzira prison.