Senior Ministry Official granted bail in iron sheet fraud case

The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has granted bail to Joshua Abaho, the Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs.

Abaho, who is accused of conspiring with his boss Mary Gorreti Kitutu to defraud the government of its iron sheets, was granted eight million Shillings cash bail.

In addition, his five sureties, including his brother and cousin, were asked to execute a non-cash bond of 150 million shillings each.

During the court hearing, the prosecution requested a hearing date as investigations in the case were still incomplete. The case has been adjourned until June 1 for Abaho, Minister Kitutu, and Naboya to return to court for mention.

According to the prosecution, Abaho diverted 5,500 iron sheets of gauge 28, which were meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme, but he diverted them for purposes unrelated to those for which they were intended and for the benefit of third parties.

It is also alleged that Abaho conspired with Kitutu between June 2022 and January 2023 by deceit to defraud beneficiaries of the Karamoja Community Empowerment Program of 9,000 pre-painted iron sheets of Gauge 28.

Abaho denied the charges and was granted bail, leaving State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu on remand alone. The other individuals charged in the case, including Minister Kitutu, her brother Naboya, and Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Amos Lugoloobi, have since been granted bail.