The Democratic Party (DP) has accused government of getting involved and influencing the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) while handling cases and corrupt officials.

The President of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), a Youth wing of the opposition Democratic Party, Ismail Kiirya while addressing the media on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at City Hall said that as DP, they are citing government’s influence in the DPP and using her office as a tool of oppression.

“We are now citing an influence of the State because it is now using the DPP’s office, as a tool of oppression,” he said.

Kiirya’s remarks follow the recent closure of the 17 files by the DPP, Jane Francis Abodo, which were pinning some politicians of getting involved in corruption related issues that saw some of the ministers being accused of diverting iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people in Karamoja.

“DPP said, they discovered that 23 files were directly involving the diversion of iron sheets and they were opened against several suspects. She also added that out of the 23, they had already screened and did not have sufficient evidence to continue with the 17 files, so they were closed,” Kiirya noted.

He accused the State of coming in to influence the DPP to decide on some cases and carrying out selective justice, citing a case of the Karamoja iron sheets.

“As Democratic Party, we are seeing selective justice by madam DPP. We are now seeing the State coming to DPP’s Office, an office where we had a lot of hope once a case goes to that office,” Kiirya stated.

He said that the State chooses who to discipline and who to give waiver through the DPP’s office, adding that the State chooses who to be punished according to the government’s interests.

“The State now decides who to be exonerated and who not, basing on its interests,” the UYD president revealed.

“However in her remarks, the DPP goes ahead to say that the 17 politicians were misled by their Personal Assistants and they had no knowledge about the iron sheets. This statement actually doesn’t give us enough hint of what she meant. Should we say that ignorance is defence in this case? Should we say that when you have been misled, you have no case to answer?” Kiirya asked.

Kiirya added, “But if you try now to hear a full DPP saying that some officers were misled, then it’s absurd to this nation.”

He wondered how corruption no longer has capacity to capture the big fish but instead concentrates on the small fish, adding that corruption scandals are only where government has no interest, but where it has interests, it comes up to bail the accused out.

He therefore called upon government to avoid selective justice, saying that it can’t work out. He cited the example of President Museveni who promised to stamp out corruption. He asked how it will work yet some people are sidelined and being protected from part of the scandals.

However, according to reports, 26 ministers and 31 legislators were named in connection with the Karamoja iron sheets case.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit together with the IGG recently arrested seven officials from the office of the Prime Minister who were charged with abuse of office and embezzlement of funds meant for Karamoja Peace activities, by the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo. Three ministers were also arrested and charged in relation to Karamoja iron sheets which were diverted, among other government officials who have been arrested and charged over embezzling government funds meant for PDM.