IRON SHEETS SAGA: WAS IT A SET - UP?

April 26, 2023 

Written by GEOFREY SERUGO

The impending prosecution of more ministers and MPs implicated in the iron sheets saga has forced many of them to plan ahead and create a mitigation buffer in a bid to avoid the shame of incarceration.

The Observer understands that several ministers and MPs involved in the iron sheets saga have stepped up efforts to avoid prison by lobbying colleagues to be sureties in advance should they end up being arraigned before court any moment.

This comes in the wake of the arrest, arraignment and remand of three ministers, Mary Kitutu, Amos Lugolobi and Agnes Nandutu so far. Whereas Kitutu and Lugoloobi are out on bail, the sheer embarrassment and humiliation they have gone through has prompted other implicated ministers to plan for a soft landing when their time comes.

“My fellow honourables (sic) are not happy with the way our colleagues have been treated. They are like terrorists. Why assemble the media and have fully-armed anti-terrorism police officers escort them as though they are fugitives? We demand better treatment from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU),” said an implicated minister who preferred not to be named.

According to sources, several ministers and MPs have already organized teams of at least six sureties, their necessary bail documents such as bank statements and their LC-I letters, among others.

In total, 52 individuals have been implicated in the diversion of relief iron sheets meant for the vulnerable poor in Karamoja. Top on the list is the vice president Jessica Alupo, speaker Anita Among, prime minister Robinah Nabbanja and Finance minister Matia Kasaija, among others.

Sources at parliament have intimated to us that some ministers and MPs have even gone a notch higher and move around with huge loads of money for possible quick bail payment.

“I know a number of ministers who move with not less than Shs 30m at any given time and part of it is for giving SHACU officers to handle them in a humane way on top of ensuring that if they are to be arraigned in court, it is in the morning hours without media attention,” said the source.

Recently, President Museveni directed all ministers who took iron sheets to return them to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and promised to deal with them ‘politically.’

Last week, Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told journalists that her office is handling more than 40 individual files on the iron sheets saga and insisted that more people will be prosecuted in due course.

A source further intimated that one minister, whose name has been withheld, has already deposited Shs 10m on the Anti-Corruption court account in preparation for bail even before he is even arrested.

“It is a tense situation at parliament and some of those implicated have become cautious in their movements to avoid being arrested like chicken thieves,” said an MP who preferred anonymity.

“Most of those on the list are from NRM and for the first time, the implicated ministers and MPs are courting some opposition MPs because they may need them as sureties in court.”

Interviewed for this story, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the state minister for Defence, said he couldn’t speak much because he is a suspect and is being investigated over that matter.

“Please, how do you call a suspect to give you information? It will be prejudicial for me and the investigators. I hope you understand. Thank you,” he said.

On his part, Kasaija said he returned all the iron sheets he received from the OPM.

“I have fulfilled the directive of the president, and I returned all the iron sheets to the OPM stores. The president said you should either return them or pay for them. If you distributed them or gave them out, you have to pay for them,” he said.

Asked to explain how ready he is for jail, the minister laughed and said, “I don’t know. What I know is that I didn’t steal. The iron sheets were given to me by OPM.”

When contacted to establish the new developments about the scandal, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said: “I think there is nothing new from me.”

Interviewed for this story, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said it is not advisable to release the list of who is set to be arraigned before the court until the DPP has identified both the ministers, MPs and technical persons who are culpable.

“The case files were submitted to the DDP’s office for thorough evaluation and appropriate action by us. We act on the outcome of the DPP,” he said.

WAS IT A SET-UP?

Meanwhile, The Observer understands the saga is brewing discontent among several high-ranking NRM politicians, some of whom are questioning the timing and culpability of those involved.

“The biggest question is how the scandal came to be selective when it comes to the people involved. How come the vice president, speaker of parliament and NRM chief whip were lured to take the iron sheets but somehow the deputy speaker didn’t? There is a likelihood he was tipped off. How come all ministers and MPs from a certain region didn’t get involved?” said an NRM MP who preferred anonymity.

“There are many multibillion deals in the country and we suspect foul play when all these leaders fall for mere iron sheets whose value is just pocket change. Now that there is a looming cabinet reshuffle, this could have been a set-up to embarrass and get rid of certain leaders while making others look good.”

Last week, Daily Monitor quoted Internal Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire saying that individuals who dished out the iron sheets included him as a beneficiary but stalled giving the items to him because they feared he would speak out.

AMONG ON A LEASH?

According to sources, President Museveni is said to have assured Alupo, Among and Nabbanja that they will not be prosecuted for their involvement in the scandal.However, a source at ODPP said their files will remain open for a long time. 

“The DPP holds the final say when it comes to sanctioning a file but she may likely hold their files to bide time until prompted by orders from above,” said the source.

On the other hand, another source claimed the president has not been happy with the way some senior members of the cabinet and parliament have been conducting business and the saga provides him a perfect opportunity to realign the power structure.

“You may have noted how Among has been creating several sub-committees to investigate government projects and entities like the Naguru-Nakawa land giveaway or NSSF...they have been implicating the president’s inner circle, especially his brother Salim Saleh. So, the state may use the iron sheets files at DPP’s office as a bargain chip or deterrent to restrain and keep the speaker in check because it [state] can resurrect the case any time,” said the source.

“So, don’t expect Among to be arraigned in court but at the same time, her file will likely remain in the DPP’s office and it could be used as a bait in case she crosses the line of what the state wants.”