MPs want minister to resign over UBC equipment

 

MPs have given the Minister for Presidency, Kabakumba Masiko up to Tuesday midday to resign from her ministerial post as the Police investigates how transmitters owned by the public broadcaster, UBC, ended up at her radio station in Masindi.

Over the weekend, Police raided the private radio station in Masindi district and recovered transmission equipment worth sh68m belonging to UBC. The equipment went missing three years ago.

 

In a joint press conference at parliamentary building Kampala on Monday, both opposition and NRM MPs demanded the immediate resignation of Kabakumba.

 

“We are disappointed to learn that during her time as information minister, her hand was caught in a public tilt and she ate from the institution she was serving. It is a disappointment to use public equipment for her personal gain,” said Theodore Ssekikubo NRM (Lwemiyaga).

 

He added that: “we call on government to come up with a detailed explanation on what they intend to do on this. Let us wait to see whether president Museveni will jump in to save the unending line of his corrupt ministers”. 

 

Abdul Katuntu FDC (Bugweri County) said this is the right time to test whether President Museveni  has got the political will to fight corruption which he says has affected the country.

 

“This is the time for him to show the country that he is willing to fight corruption. The county is watching. We only demand the s resignation of Masiko,” he stated.

 

Katuntu added that Kabakumba has no moral authority to be a minister when she has been implicated in the theft of government property.

 

Wilfred Niwagaba NRM (Ndorwa East) asked the minister to show remorse and not only resign from her cabinet post but also to resign her parliamentary seat saying what she did was total abuse of public office.

 

“If she doesn’t resign today (Tuesday) by midday we are bringing a censure motion. She should not hide under the cover of the radio managers; she is using public office to steal public property. She should be charged with abuse of office,” he said.

 

Niwagaba also demanded that the minister refunds all the monies government has lost during the period the equipment was at her radio station.

 

Vincent Kyamadidi NRM (Rwampara County) noted that: “this is a case of broad day robbery. Stealing a transmitter is a big case. We are now demanding that she resigns immediately .God is watching and Hhe will expose all of them corrupt officials one day,”.

 

Joseph Ssewungu DP (Kalungu west) asked the minister to do the right thing and  to resign before parliament forces her out of office.

 

 However the minister said  has vowed not to resign despite calls by the  MPs that she steps down. Kabakumba said she could not vacate her post over “mere allegations aimed at tarnishing her name.” 

 

“There is no need to resign,” Kabakumba said in a telephone interview last evening. 

 

“Why should I?” she asked. “The said radio station was already established before I was a director,” the minister said in defense.