There is no oil scandal says Mbabazi

By Henry Mukasa

PRIME Minister Amama  Mbabazi has said that there is no oil scandal arguing that the bribery allegations labeled against him and two senior ministers are fabricated.

“The allegations against me should not be called a scandal because no conclusion has been made yet”, Mbabazi told the oil probe committee on Tuesday.

The Premier who denied having facilitated a meeting between Eni and Tullow, said, he learnt of the oil bribery allegations when the President ordered a probe after journalist Andrew Mwenda gave him some documents.

He also rubbished claims that he attended meetings in Dubai and London with Zuma's son.
Mabazai was in the morning briefly sent out of the oil probe committee as MPs vote on whether to continue with his testimony or not.

This after the Premier disagreed with the procedure the committee was taking to grill him.

Mbabazi arrives at Parliament for the hearing

He answered MPs’ questions with short precise answers of yes and no which angered some committee members.

“Some MPs wanted him to continue but others wanted to go back. He has been asked to step out so that MPs agree on the way forward,” an MP told the New Vision.

The committee chaired by Michael Werikhe is investigating bribery allegations against Mbabazi, two ministers Sam Kutesa and Hilary Onek. They are accused of having received bribes from oil companies.

The probe is among the resolutions the House passed following a  two-day sizzling debate on the matter. Among other things, MPs called upon the accused ministers to resign and pave way for investigations into the matter to save them the burden of censure.

Kutesa and Onek are accused of receiving billions as bribes from Tullow Oil, one of the companies lined-up for the oil production.

Mbabazi is accused of having received funds to front for Italian oil company ENI to buy off Heritage shares. His daughter, Nina Mbabazi is said to have owned a company doing business with oil companies. The three ministers have denied the allegations against them.

Article 118 of the Constitution states that: Parliament may pass a vote of censure against a minister on the grounds of (i) abuse of office or willful violation of the oath of allegiance or oath of office; (ii) misconduct or misbehavior; (iii) physical or mental incapacity; (iv) mismanagement; or (v) incompetence.

The modalities are that Parliament may pass a vote of censure against a minister by resolution supported by more than half of all its members.

Proceedings for censure of a minister are initiated by a petition to the President through the Speaker, signed by not less than one third of all members of Parliament, stating that they are dissatisfied with the conduct or performance of the minister.

Upon receipt of the petition, the President causes a copy of it to be given to the minister in question. The motion for the resolution of censure is not debated until the expiry of 30 days after the petition was sent to the President.

A minister in respect of whom a vote of censure is debated is entitled during the debate to be heard in his or her defence.