Agnes Nandutu, a former Ugandan minister, was sentenced to four years in prison for diverting aid materials meant for vulnerable communities.
The ruling follows a 2022 scandal in which officials misappropriated 14,500 iron sheets intended for impoverished families in Karamoja region.
Nandutu was convicted of taking 2,000 sheets for personal use, betraying public trust and deepening anger among citizens weary of corruption.
The court also barred her from holding public office for 10 years, marking a rare punishment for a senior figure.
During proceedings, Nandutu apologised, with the judge noting her remorse as a mitigating factor but insufficient to avoid custodial sentencing.
Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga said financial penalties alone would trivialise the offence, stressing the need for deterrence against entrenched corruption practices.
Prosecutors described the sentence as proportionate, reflecting the gravity of the crime and the responsibility tied to public office.
Defence lawyers criticised the punishment as excessive, arguing Nandutu had been misled and had acknowledged her wrongdoing.
The case stands out in Uganda, where corruption is widespread and senior officials are rarely prosecuted or imprisoned for graft-related offences.
President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, has pledged accountability for all involved in the broader scandal.
Karamoja, one of the country’s poorest regions, has long struggled with drought, floods, and food insecurity, making the theft especially stark.