Minister Lugoloobi remanded to Luzira

By Rachael Najjuma

17^th April 2023

The State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development Amos Lugolobi has been remanded to Luzira Prisons after being charged with two counts of dealing with suspected property.

The Anti Corruption Court in Kololo Kampala presided over by Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe charged the Minister and adjourned the matter 20th April 2023 on Thursday at mid day for bail ruling and with express orders to Luzira prisons officers to take note of his health condition.

The defense led by counsel John Isabirye presented seven surieties to secure bail for the Minister and these included Honourable Naigaga Mariam district woman representative for Namutumba district , Honourable James Kakooza a member of the East Africa Legislative assembly and a former state minister for health, honourable Dr. Keefa Kiwanuka MP Kiboga East, Mr. Paul Mugamba Ssempa former ambassador of Uganda to Brazil, Mr Martin Ssekajja head of operations Uganda security printing company, Mr Joseph Muvawala the Executive Director National Planning Authority also the prime minister of Busoga kingdom and Moses Kaliisa Kalangwa chairman Movement Kayunga district.

In their submissions the defense team prayed that the Minister be granted bail due to his health condition as he suffers from hypertensive and heart problems however state prosecution opposed the prayer saying the prisons can handle any health condition including the Minister’s.

It further prayed for more time to study the documents like the land titles of the surieties and also prayed that should the court be inclined to grant bail stringent measures must be put forward.

Prosecution alleges that on the 14^th day of July 2022 and February 2023 at OPM stores Namanve in Mukono district and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso district and Ntenjeru North constituency in Kayunga district dealt with government property to wit 400 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.

It further alleges that the Minister between the 1st of February 2023 and the 16th of march 2023 at OPM stores Namanve in Wakiso district 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.

Lugolobi becomes the second minister to be charged over the Karamoja iron sheets scandal where more than 14,500 pieces of iron sheets under the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program were diverted the first being Karamoja Affairs minister Mary Gorretti Kitutu alongside her brother Michael Naboya Kitutu but these ones were released on bail last week and will return on April 27.