Minister Kitutu's Family land her in Trouble - MPs move to censure her over alleged diversion of relief items meant for Karamoja

MPs move to censure Minister over alleged diversion of relief items meant for Karamoja.

Members of Parliament (MPs) from Karamoja Sub-region have launched a process to censure the minister-in-charge of Karamoja Affairs, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu, over allegations of diversion of relief items meant for vulnerable communities in northeastern Uganda. 

This latest move by the MPs came after weeks of investigations into the alleged diversion of relief items, which revealed that Ms Kitutu had been diverting iron sheets and other supplies meant for Karamoja to non-intended beneficiaries, and thus amounting to mismanagement and abuse of office or willful violation of oath of allegiance or oath of office.

Yesterday, the MPs submitted to the offices of the Speaker and the Clerk to Parliament a notice of motion to censure, the first step in the process of censuring a minister, as provided for under rule 109 of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure. 

According to the notice, Ms Kitutu is accused of failure to deliver iron sheets and other supplies meant for Karamoja to support the ongoing disarmament exercise and the diversion of some items to non-intended beneficiaries.

Parliament in 2021 passed a Shs39 billion supplementary budget to procure 100,000 iron sheets for disarmed youth and the vulnerable in the sub-region, but these have not been delivered to date. 

The diversion of these items has led to frustration and disappointment among the vulnerable communities in the region who have been looking up to the government for support.

Ms Faith Nakut, the Woman MP of Napak, said they opted for a censure after a request to the President to have the minister transferred to another docket was not granted. “Given that, we have been forced to do what is required of us as leaders from the region, and so we have given a notice for a censure motion so that the minister will be forced to leave the office she has abused. 

We want to commit to the people of Karamoja that we will continue to do everything within our means to see they get the justice they deserve,” she said.