DPP Withdraws Case Against Minister Amos Lugoloobi in Karamoja Iron-SheetsScandal: What It Means

 

In a surprising turn of events, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has formally dropped charges against State Minister for Finance, Amos Lugoloobi, ending a high-profile legal battle over iron sheets meant for relief in the Karamoja region. The decision raises fresh questions about accountability, justice and the fate of humanitarian aid in Uganda.

The scandal emerged when iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in Karamoja were alleged to have been diverted to other uses. 

Lugoloobi was accused of receiving around 700 iron sheets between July 2022 and March 2023, allegedly earmarked for Karamoja but instead used elsewhere. 

He faced charges of dealing with suspect government property, under the premise that the sheets bore the mark of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and were not correctly accounted for. 

On November 7, 2025, the DPP submitted  (a decision not to proceed) and on November 11, the case against Lugoloobi was struck off by the court before Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga. 

In other words: the prosecution formally decided to stop pursuing the case, and Lugoloobi walks away cleared — at least legally — of those charges.

Lugoloobi has maintained his innocence throughout:

He says the iron sheets were received lawfully in his role as MP and minister under government programmes. 

He claims his constituency, Ntenjeru North in Kayunga District, falls under zones entitled to affirmative-action support. 

His defense also noted other ministers implicated in the same scandal were not prosecuted (or at least not yet) and implied the charges may have been selective. 

The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters

This development carries significance beyond just one person:

Aid & relief trust: When materials meant for poor, remote communities are perceived to end up elsewhere, public trust in government programmes takes a hit.

Selective prosecution concerns: Many Ugandans will ask: if one implicated minister faces court, why others don’t — or not yet? The optics of justice being even-handed matter for governance.

Precedent for accountability: Dropping a high-profile case could affect how future cases of alleged mis-allocation of relief items are treated, for better or worse.

Political fallout: For Lugoloobi this is a relief — but reputational damage may linger. For opposition, civil society and watchdogs, this may serve as a rallying point for deeper reforms.

Across social media and local commentary:

Some view this as a victory for Lugoloobi: vindication after what they describe as a long and stressful legal ordeal.

Others view it as a missed opportunity for justice: “If ministers get away”, they ask, “what message does that send?”

At grassroots level (especially in Karamoja and relief-recipient communities) there is worry: Will the intended beneficiaries ever see correct relief resources? Will future allocations follow stricter oversight?

The case of two other implicated ministers (Agnes Nandutu and Mary Goretti Kitutu) remains active for now. 

Civil society groups are likely to push for independent audits of relief-material allocations to remote areas like Karamoja.

Pressure may mount on government to publish clear data on which materials were allocated, where they went, and who ultimately benefitted.

What started as an aid-programme meant to help the underserved — especially in a region like Karamoja — ended up becoming a high-profile corruption controversy. That the DPP has dropped the case against Amos Lugoloobi doesn’t necessarily close the book on the iron-sheets scandal. It may, however, signal tougher questions ahead: about how relief is distributed, how ministers are held accountable, and how trust can be restored in Uganda’s public-relief systems.

For our readers: What do you think this outcome means for accountability in Uganda? Should the government publish full audits of relief-materials given to vulnerable areas? Share your views below and let’s discuss.