Uganda arrests second minister over alleged theft of iron sheets for relief program

Reuters:

KAMPALA, April 15 – Uganda’s assistant finance minister has been arrested and detained on accusations of diverting metal roofing sheets meant for a relief program in the restive northeastern Karamoja region, police said late on Friday.

Amos Lugoloobi’s arrest is the second of a minister in recent weeks over the roofing sheets’ diversion.

Police said Lugoloobi’s arrest was authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as part of “investigations into the alleged theft and diversion of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja region.”

“The office of the DPP has sanctioned criminal charges against … Lugoloobi,” a police statement on Twitter said. “As a result, he has been arrested and detained…pending court.”

Arrests and prosecution of senior government officials for corruption are rare in the east African country.

Critics have long cited the failure to prosecute senior officials allied to President Yoweri Museveni for corruption as evidence his government was unwilling or unable to root out graft.