Speaker refuses to disclose IGG wealth

Nov 11, 2003

SPEAKER of Parliament Edward Ssekandi has declined to release the details of the Inspector General of Government Jotham Tumwesigye’s wealth, saying there was no law for public to access information in government’s possession

SPEAKER of Parliament Edward Ssekandi has declined to release the details of the Inspector General of Government Jotham Tumwesigye’s wealth, saying there was no law for public to access information in government’s possession, reports Felix Osike.

The Speaker said there was yet no prescribed form for the public to access the wealth declarations filed by leaders under the Leadership Code.

The New Vision on November 5 applied to the Speaker to have access to the IGG’s list of assets and liabilities. The Speaker requested for time to consult the Attorney General, Francis Ayume, over the matter.

According to the Leadership Code Act, 2002, the IGG declares his income and liabilities to the Speaker.

Yesterday, Ssekandi wrote to The New Vision editor, saying the Attorney General had advised that “accessibility to the information within my possession by virtue of my office should be accessed in accordance with the law. I hope soon necessary laws will be in place so that Article 41 of the Constitution is fully operational.”

Article 41 guarantees citizens right to access information in possession of the State or state agencies, except where release of the information “is likely to prejudice the security or sovereignty of the State or interfere with right to the privacy of any other person.”

The Article states that Parliament shall enact a law prescribing procedure for public to access the information.

Ssekandi said the law has not yet been enacted.

Ssekandi quoted Article 2 that states that any law or custom not consistent with the Constitution was void “to the extent of the inconsistency.”

Ssekandi said section 7 of the Leadership Code allows the public to access wealth declarations upon application to the IGG “in the form prescribed under the Code.”

He, however, added that the “envisaged form prescribed under the Leadership Code is also not in place” for public to access the information.

Earlier, Parliament’s Senior Public Relations Officer Kagole Kivumbi had told The New Vision that “the law is not clear” and that the Speaker wrote to the Attorney General on November 6 because his advice was crucial in interpreting how the public can access such information from the Speaker. Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has twice raised queries why the IGG, the custodian of the law, had not declared his assets.

The IGG said he did not mind the Speaker revealing his assets.

“I declared my assets to the Speaker as required by law.
“It is the Speaker to make it public,” he said.

The law is silent on how the Speaker can divulge such information.

Some leaders have protested the publication of their wealth by Sunday Vision, saying the IGG was breaching the law.

But the IGG said he was implementing Section 7 of the Act which allows members of the public to access leaders’ wealth upon application.

He has advised those who do not want their wealth to be made public to vacate public office.

The purpose of the law is to ensure that leaders acquire the wealth commensurate with their incomes.

It prohibits abuse of property, office and conflict of interest while in a public office.

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