The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has flagged off the delivery of another batch of iron sheets to the vulnerable in Karamoja sub region.
Flagged off at the OPM stores in Namanve, the new batch has 97552 pieces of iron sheets meant to benefit 3752 households in the nine district of Karamoja subregion.
The new batch follows a directive by President Museveni for Karamoja to be reconsidered for iron sheets after the first batch was diverted by several government officials.
“The president directed that the iron sheets are dispatched and that MPs, the UPDF brigade commander and other district leaders should scrutinise the lists of beneficiaries. If all districts get , we will see how we go to distribute them ,” Nabbanja said.
She insisted the iron sheets haven’t just been bought but rather are part of those already bought by government.
The chairperson of the Karamoja Parliamentary Group, Remigio Achia welcomed the new batch of iron sheets to the people of Karamoja.
“The beneficiaries, especially young men giving up their guns voluntarily have been questioning us for not delivering on the promises made by government. It is good that they are now going to receive the iron sheets,” Achia said.
“If the warriors see others getting these iron sheets, the momentum will be high and they will bring guns voluntarily so they can get iron sheets to build their houses.”
The State Minister for Karamoja, Agnes Nandutu welcomed the initiative that she said will help deal with cattle rustling.
According to the Prime Minister, each beneficiary including reformed warriors will receive 26 iron sheets.
The release of another batch of iron sheets follows the halting of the process of after senior government officials including ministers diverted the iron sheets.
Three ministers including Mary Goretti Kitutu, Agnes Nandutu, both for Karamoja and Amos Lugoloobi, the state minister for finance are currently battling charges related to diverting Karamoja iron sheets.
