Minister Lugolobi Denied bail .

 

The State Minister for Finance, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi has been denied bail by   the Anti-corruption Court, Kololo.

Minister Lugolobi had appeared in court this afternoon to take plea on Corruption related charges in the diversion of iron sheets meant for Karamoja sub-region. 

Minister Lugolobi was arrested on the 15th of April2023, over the diversion of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja.

Lugolobi who allegedly decided to use the diverted iron sheets to roof his cow shed was arrested on Friday night after showing up at the criminal investigations department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli to record a statement. The minister has been snubbing CID summons, allegedly duping the investigators that he is out of the country on official duties whereas not.

Mr. Lugolobi presented a number of sureties including; Ms. Mariam Naigaga, woman MP Namutumba district, Mr. James Kakooza – a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, Mr. Paul Mugamba, Dr. Keefa Kiwanuka – Kiboga East MP, Martin Sekajja – head operations, Uganda security systems company, Joseph Muvawala – Busoga Kingdom Primier, and Mr. Karisa Karangwa Moses, businessman and NRM Chairman Kayunga.

The Justice noted that he needs ample time to analyze the submitted documents to balance the interest of both parties and also ensure that the decision to grant or not grant bail is judiciously arrived at in a fair manner.

“For this reason, the ruling on this bail application is reserved for 20th April 2023 at 12 noon, and in the meantime, the accused person is remanded to prison.”

Lugoloobi had used the iron sheets meant for Karamoja relief to roof a shed for animals on his farm which he later removed last month calling them “evil”.

“I have realised that these iron sheets are evil and I no longer need them. Let me remove it so that I buy other iron sheets and re-roof my shed so that no one can lay claim that I owe them anything on my property,” he said after admitting to receiving them.

Earlier this week, President Yoweri Museveni blamed his ministers for trying to do the cheap popularity of fund-raising thus stealing to please their voters.

“The problem with the political class is that some of them have not internalized the NRM line on social-economic transformation and they, opportunistically, try to do the cheap popularity of fund-raising, giving mabaati, giving big numbers of bursaries, etc.”

But sources say he was advised to show up and have his fate determined as soon as possible. He is currently being held at Kira Road police station. It is not yet clear when Lugolobi will be arraigned before court to face justice.