The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has said that although she did not request for iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister, they were also given to vulnerable people in Bukedea district.

“Aren’t people in Bukedea vulnerable? They are vulnerable. They are also very poor. So, the iron sheets served the poor. After all, we gave them to government schools. We are complementing what government is doing,” she said during Tuesday's plenary.

Among is also serving as the Woman MP for Bukedea.

She insisted that people should stop calling the beneficiaries of the iron sheets that were meant for the vulnerable people in Karamoja "thieves", saying most of them did not ask for them.

She said whoever diverted the iron sheets should carry their own cross.

“I have always said, the iron sheets were taken to my district Bukedea without me knowing. Am I a thief?

"Everybody must carry his or her own cross. If someone diverted them, it is their problem. We did not ask for them."

The Speaker was responding to Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju’s comments on whether the beneficiaries of the iron sheets should be allowed to speak in the House.

Citing Government chief whip Denis Obua, one of the beneficiaries, Ssemujju said many of the ministers who received the iron sheets have already been summoned by Police.

“Madam Speaker, the Police have summoned all the ministers who received Karamoja iron sheets. Is it in order for one of the beneficiaries to stand and address Parliament when we know that they are suspect?

"Honourable Obua knows the pain we go through when our colleagues are arrested and taken to prison,” said Ssemujju.

Among said Obua was innocent since he did not request for the iron sheets.

President Yoweri Museveni has since directed the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) to conduct an inquiry into allegations of theft of iron sheets and other relief items that were meant for Karamoja region.

Police spokesman Fred Enanga told journalists during a press briefing that the task will be handled by a joint team comprised of officers from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), CID and SHACU.

“The joint team shall expand on the preliminary inquiries so far conducted and further liaise with IGG and Parliament on the same matter,” he said.