By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Office of the Prime Minister has issued a press statement in response to the Saturday 11th February, 2023 arrests of Minister for Karamoja Affairs relatives for allegedly selling relief items meant for Karamoja.
News of the arrests of Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu’s relatives that included her frail mother, Cotilda Kitutu, brother, Michael Nabwoya and nephew, Julius Wabule was broken by New Vision on 13th February, 2023.
According to New Vision, the relatives were caught red-handed selling relief items including 450 irons sheets branded “For Office of the Prime Minister.”
In a statement released yesterday 13th February, 2023 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, Keith Muhakanizi, OPM confirms that they indeed sent through the office of the Minister for Karamoja Affairs iron sheets to support the vulnerable groups in Karamoja.
Muhakanizi identifies the intended beneficiaries as; vulnerable groups, interest groups, institutions and Karachunas (Reformed warriors) in Karamoja region.
Whereas in the Monday’s Newvision edition, some of the iron sheets were allegedly meant to be donated to Situumi Primary School and Nambaale Church of Uganda in Namisindwa district, Muhakanizi emphasizes that there was never a delivery of iron sheets to Namisindwa district.
“However, we did not send iron sheets to Namisindwa District,” Muhakanizi says in his statement, before adding that “The alleged diversion of iron sheets against the intended purpose shall be investigated and action will be taken against perpetuators including recovery and prosecution.”
The Permanent Secretary has also asked officials from the department of Karamoja Affairs to submit accountabilities for iron sheets that were released.
