The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued criminal summons against former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, and her sureties after they all failed to appear for a scheduled hearing in the ongoing iron sheets scandal case.
The summons were issued on Wednesday by Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, following a request by State Attorney David Bisamunyu.
He informed the court that Nandutu has repeatedly failed to attend proceedings, despite being found with a case to answer more than six months ago.
She is accused of dealing with suspect property — specifically, diverting iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region.
Although Nandutu had begun her defence, she was again absent on Wednesday. Her lawyer, Nandah Wamukota, told the court that she had informed him that morning she was feeling unwell.
However, Justice Kajuga — who also serves as Acting Principal Judge — expressed frustration over the persistent delays.
She noted that there was no medical evidence to support Nandutu’s claims and observed that her absences had become habitual since January 10, 2025, when she was officially committed to defence.
Kajuga reminded the court that she had previously ordered an independent medical evaluation by Mulago National Hospital, which found Nandutu fit to stand trial.
She added that claims of illness seemed to intensify only after the defence phase was due to commence.
“The issues of illness seem to have been exacerbated just when the defence was expected to begin,” Kajuga remarked. She also criticised Nandutu’s sureties for failing to uphold their obligations.
“It appears the sureties are unbothered by the duties they undertook when they came to court. At the very least, they should have made an effort to find out why the accused was absent,” she said.
Justice Kajuga added that Nandutu’s conduct amounted to deliberate delay tactics. Citing constitutional provisions, she stressed that the court is permitted to try an accused person in absentia and warned that such manoeuvres must stop.
She ordered the sureties to appear in person, noting that the court will determine whether they should be discharged from their responsibilities for failing to ensure Nandutu’s attendance.
She fixed July 24 and August 1, 2025, as the dates on which Nandutu is expected to present her defence. She also issued what she described as a final warning to the former minister.
In her initial defence, Nandutu blamed her senior, Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu, for failing to provide guidance during the iron sheets distribution. She described herself as a political newcomer, inexperienced both in Parliament and in the executive.
This case forms part of a wider corruption scandal involving three ministers over the mismanagement of relief items meant for the Karamoja sub-region.
In addition to Nandutu, the implicated ministers include Amos Lugoloobi, State Minister for Economic Planning, who has concluded his defence and is expected to call further witnesses; and Mary Goretti Kitutu, the former Minister for Karamoja Affairs, whose trial is currently on hold pending an appeal related to torture allegations during her detention.
The Inspectorate of Government accuses Kitutu of failing to implement peacebuilding programmes in Karamoja between February and June 2022, causing a government loss of Shs1.5 billion.
Nandutu is now the second minister to be formally ordered to defend herself in court over the iron sheets scandal.
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