The embattled Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mary Goretti Kitutu has bowed to pressure from the public and released an official apology for misappropriating iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in the Sub region.
Her move is opposed to a popular vote by Members of Parliament on the Presidential Affairs Committee and the Karamoja group to resign.
The controversial Minister apologized in an official statement while appearing before Members of Parliament on the Presidential Affairs Committee. This was her second appearance to a grilling session before the stern committee chaired by Jessica Ababiku. Kitutu first appeared before the Committee on Wednesday this week.
Kitutu explained to members that as a head of the Ministry, she didn’t have prior knowledge or guidance on how to manage the distribution of iron sheets or goats.
The MPs questioned whether she even had a prior plan for a supplementary budget of 39 billion shillings of which 22 billion was for the purchase of the iron sheets.
“This statement is being made in my capacity as Minister for Karamoja Affairs on the matter of iron sheets procured under my Ministry. Without proper guidance, some iron sheets meant for Karamoja region were given outside the region in response to requests. This could have been an oversight but now that guidance has been given, this will not recur,” the apology reads in part.
“Any inconveniences and embarrassments caused are highly regretted. My commitment to serving Uganda as a whole and the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs, in particular, is unwavering. I pray that you accept my sincere apology.”
While appearing before the same committee on Wednesday, Kitutu acknowledged donating a total of 14.500 iron sheets. This prompted the legislators to question what authority and criteria she used in distributing the iron sheets.
Geofrey Sseremba, the under secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister informed the committee that a total of 20,000 iron sheets were released from the stores on the orders of the Minister. He stated that of these, only 6000 were delivered in two districts in Karamoja, 5000 to Moroto and 1000 to Nakapiripirit.
MPs questioned what law Kitutu stood on to donate thousands of iron sheets to herself as minister for Karamoja and her colleagues. The committee chair also demanded an explanation from the Minister as to why iron sheets of Karamoja ended up in the hands of her mother and brother among others.
Your mother and brother are implicated in the sale of these iron sheets, is this claim true?, questioned a member of the Committee.
However, in response, the minister asked for more time to prepare her defense before the committee.
“I will request on the issue of donations that you allow me time to come back and give accountability,” Kitutu said on Wednesday.
It is then that she returned before the Committee Friday to explain her position.
Finance minister Matia Kasaija while appearing before the same committee confessed to receiving 450 iron sheets that he didn’t ask for. Kasaija says that he later donated to schools in his constituency.
The committee is expected to make recommendations on how to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future and to hold those responsible accountable.
