MPs from Karamoja say the matter is one that tests the House’s willingness to fight corruption.
Lawmakers yesterday tabled a key motion in the House demanding that the two ministers overseeing the Karamaja docket resign with immediate effect so as to allow proper investigations into the allegations of mismanagement of relief items meant for vulnerable people in the sub-region.
While yesterday tabling a motion for a resolution of Parliament to inquire into the alleged mismanagement of relief items under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Mr Achia Remigio (Pian County), the chairperson of Karamoja Parliamentary Group resolved that the ministers resign with immediate effect.
“Now therefore be it resolved that Parliament through its relevant committee inquiries into the alleged mismanagement of relief items in the Office of the Prime Minister and that the Minister of Karamoja Affairs;
Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu and the minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu do resign, because we have waited for them to step aside, do resign to allow proper investigations into the matter.”
Among the items the ministers are accused of mismanaging are goats, iron sheets and maize which Mr Remigio said amount to abuse of office, misconduct, misbehaviour, corruption, diversion of public resources and breach of the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Minister.
Ms Faith Nakut (Napak District), the seconder of the motion, said the matter tested legislators’ willingness to fight corruption and how far they could go as Parliament in exercising their job of oversight on the excesses of government.
“The intended beneficiaries were the Karuchunas, those who were going to give up criminality. The Office of the Prime Minister went ahead to procure these things and supplied goats and the majority died not because they were sick but because they were supplied without following the normal procedure[s],” Ms Nakut said, adding, “As if that was not enough, the minister responsible for Karamoja, the one in-charge of this assignment decided to gift people who were not on the beneficiaries list the iron sheets. It was as if she was not done with the goats, the malice on them, destroying the livelihood of our people.”
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