A second time bail has been rejected for a Ugandan cabinet minister accused in a scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets.
The sureties put out by Mary Goretti Kitutu Kimono’s attorneys were rejected by a magistrate at the anti-corruption court as insufficient.
After entering a not guilty plea to corruption last Thursday about 14,500 corrugated iron sheets that were supposed to be delivered to at-risk villages in the northeastern Karamoja region but never arrived, Mrs. Kitutu was remanded in detention.
The 60-year-old politician is the minister for the region that for decades has faced persistent droughts and flooding when it rains, leaving many in the semi-arid area dependent on aid.
At least 10 other senior government figures are alleged to have received some of the stolen metal sheets.
These include the vice-president, the prime minister, the parliamentary Speaker and other ministers.
Earlier this week, police said more files related to the scandal had been sent to the prosecutors and indictments may follow.
President Yoweri Museveni has said those who took the corrugated iron must return them or pay back the cash equivalent.