The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has adjourned the case against former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Nandutu, to January 28th, 2026. She faces charges of receiving iron sheets meant for the vulnerable Karamojong.
The matter was scheduled for further hearing today before Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga. However, the Judge was not in court, as she is currently on leave, prompting the adjournment.
In the previous session, Nandutu, through her lawyers led by Nandah Wamukota, had asked that her passport be discharged, but the Court had directed him to make a formal application for that. She wanted to use it to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The case is approaching the stage of final submissions to determine whether Nandutu should be convicted or acquitted. Earlier timelines issued by the Court required the state, represented by David Bisamunyu, to file written submissions by November 14th, 2025, and the defense to respond by November 28th, 2025. Any rejoinder was to be submitted by December 5th, 2025, with the Judge scheduled to sum up the case today, before the assessors give their opinion. Nandutu faces charges of dealing in suspect property, with the prosecution alleging she privately dealt with government property, including 2000 pre-painted iron sheets, between June and July 2022.
The prosecution contends that the legislator received the iron sheets acquired as a result of the loss of public property, an offence under Section 10 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 as amended.
Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, early this year, found Nandutu with a case to answer and accordingly put her on defense following evidence from state witnesses who testified against her that she received iron sheets for the vulnerable people of Karamoja.
The Bududa District Woman MP, Nandutu, then defended herself and concluded her defence on October 6, 2025, with testimony from four defence witnesses.
In her initial defense, Nandutu blamed her senior, Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu, for failing to guide her during the iron sheets distribution. She described herself as a political newcomer, lacking experience both in Parliament and the executive.
Among those who appeared in Nandutu’s defence were Peter Omodoi, an employee of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM); Bududa District LC5 chairperson Milton Apollo Kamoti Wasinguyi; and Francis Lowoth Okori.
Nandutu is the only suspect undergoing trial in the iron sheets scandal. On November 11th, 2025, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew similar charges against Amos Lugoloobi, the State Minister for Economic Planning, who had already concluded his defense at the time of withdrawal, and Mary Goretti Kitutu, the former Minister for Karamoja Affairs, whose trial is currently on hold pending an appeal related to allegations of torture during her detention.
The Inspectorate of Government also accuses Kitutu of failing to implement peacebuilding programs in Karamoja between February and June 2022, resulting in a government loss of Shs1.5 billion.
***URN***