By Angel Lubowa
President Yoweri Museveni has vowed to to bring to book all his ministers and government workers who soiled their hands in the karamoja iron sheets scandal.
A reliable source from.srate house has told this writer that president felt cheated especially when his would be compliant s became alleged looters thus giving the NRM party a bad image.
During the last Monday Cabinet meeting in State House Entebbe a furious Museveni tasked his ministers to explain how the iron sheets saga unravelled and demanded a police and DPP inquiry into the matter.
“What is Parliament and the Inspector General of Government investigating in a police case? Why is Parliament wasting time? This is criminal… whoever is involved in [Karamoja iron sheets scandal] should be arrested for theft,” the President is quoted as saying.
Lawmakers from Karamoja sub-region have since asked ministers Gorette Kitutu and her colleague Ms Agnes Nandutu to resign as Parliament and IGG examine the latest OPM scandal. The two are among the ministers implicated in the allegations of mishandling the relief items meant for Karamoja sub-region including iron sheets which reports have attracted a lot of backlash from Ugandans.
With things at this level , the president has now directed police and his no nonsense State House Anti Corruption Unit and other authorities to expediously investigate the matter.
Early this week police spokesman Fred Enanga told press ,”In line with the above, the Director of Public Prosecution using her Constitutional powers has directed CID working jointly with SH/ACU to expeditiously conduct a criminal investigation into the matter,”
Enanga said the task will be handled by a joint team comprised of officers from DPP, CID and State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
“The joint team shall expand on the preliminary inquiries so far conducted and further liaise with IGG and Parliament on the same matter,” he said.
The police publicist said the investigating team will summon all the concerned personalities to ensure an expeditious investigation.
“The directive further demonstrates the commitment of Government to fight corruption in our country,” Enanga said.
Lawmakers on Parliament’s committee on Presidential Affairs on Sunday departed for Karamoja sub-region in the north-eastern part of the country to unearth more information on the mismanaged relief items which were intended for vulnerable people in the region.
