The anti-corruption court has ordered Bududa Woman MP Agnes Nandutu to begin presenting her defense in a trial over an iron sheets scandal, rejecting further postponements based on her claimed ill health.
Presiding Judge Jane Kajuga issued the directive Monday after dismissing a request from Nandutu’s lawyers for more time. The court stated that the repeated delays were no longer justified and insisted the case must proceed.
“This matter has been adjourned multiple times. We are stretching it unnecessarily,” Judge Kajuga said, expressing frustration with the length of the proceedings.
Nandutu, who faces corruption charges for allegedly diverting iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region, was present in court but did not testify. Her defense team argued she was still too unwell to take the stand.
“Our client is frail, has difficulty breathing, and has a swollen leg. She is not fit to testify,” her lawyer Caleb Alaka told the court. He added that the defense planned to present four witnesses before Nandutu would testify and requested more time for her recovery.
State Prosecutor David Bisamunyu opposed the request, accusing the defense of using health concerns to delay the case.
“The accused is in court. She can speak, and she can defend herself,” Bisamunyu argued. He reminded the court that the case had already been adjourned four times and that no new medical evidence supported another delay. “Justice should not be delayed indefinitely,” he said, urging the court to consider the rights of the complainants.
Judge Kajuga sided with the prosecution. “There is no medical report showing she cannot remember, speak, or respond. Why not let her begin?” she asked, emphasizing that the court could assess Nandutu’s condition based on her testimony.
The judge also criticized the defense for a lack of coordination in presenting witnesses, stating it had contributed to the delays.
In response to the repeated claims about Nandutu’s health, Judge Kajuga ordered Mulago and Nakasero hospitals to conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation of the lawmaker and submit a report on her condition to the court.
The case has drawn significant public attention as it unfolds amid a broader corruption scandal involving the alleged misuse of roofing materials meant for vulnerable families in the Karamoja region, implicating several high-profile officials.
