Kampala – The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued a warrant for the arrest of John Watenga, the farm manager of former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu. The warrant was issued on Friday by Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga during a hearing related to the ongoing investigation into the misuse of iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in Karamoja.
State Attorney David Bisamunyu requested the warrant after Watenga, who was reportedly present at Nandutu’s farm in Mukono District when the iron sheets were discovered, failed to appear in court. The police had recovered 1,617 iron sheets from the former minister’s farmhouse in Kkola Cell, Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono District, during a search on March 24, 2023.
Efforts to locate Watenga since May 2024 have been unsuccessful, prompting the court to issue the arrest warrant. In addition, Justice Kajuga issued criminal summons against Nandutu, who is facing charges of dealing with suspect property, after she also failed to appear in court, along with her lawyers.
Both Watenga and Nandutu are required to appear in court on November 6, 2024, for the next hearing of the case. So far, nine prosecution witnesses have testified.
The prosecution alleges that in June 2022, Nandutu dealt with 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets belonging to the government of Uganda, which were intended for distribution in Karamoja. The charges fall under Section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009, as amended. Both individuals are expected to reappear in court for further proceedings on November 6, 2024.
