Court Declines to Delay Minister Lugoloobi Iron Sheets Trial

The Anti-corruption court has declined to delay minister Amo’s Lugolobi’s corruption trial and instead ordered that the Finance minister proceeds to defend himself against allegations of stealing Iron sheets that were meant for impoverished Karamoja communities.  

Lugolobi’s lawyers John Isabirye and Tony Tumukunde had requested that  this corruption trial be stayed pending the hearing and disposal of  Constitutional  reference they have filed this morning.

However trial judge Jane Okuo Kajuga refused to temporarily suspend the trial saying its not automatic that where a Constitutional question raises, the trial court should stay the proceedings in a matter.  

The judge has then proceeded to explain to Lugolobi his rights to defence including giving  sworn or unsworn evidence and testimony or the right to remain silent . 

The minster after consulting his lawyers, has chosen to give a sworn defence and has intimated to court that he will be calling witnesses to testify on his behalf.

Last year in November the State Minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development Amos Lugoloobi has been ordered to defend himself over his alleged involvement in the diversion of 700 iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people that ended up at his farm in Kayunga District among other places.

prosecution’s case that Minister Lugoloobi on July 14, 2022, and February 2023 at OPM Stores in Namanve in Mukono District and at different places in Matugga, Wakiso District, and Ntenjeru North Constituency in Kayunga District, dealt with government property, which is 400 pre-painted iron sheets marked “Office of the Prime Minister”.
The prosecution claims the minister had a reason to believe that the said iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offense under section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act.

In count two, the prosecution accused the Ntenjeru North MP of dealing with 300 pre-painted iron sheets marked OPM.