MPs challenge Govt on national ID report

By John Odyek and Joyce Namutebi

MPs have asked government to show its resolve in fighting corruption through the actions it will take in tackling the botched national identity card project.

The call followed a stand-off between Parliament and Cabinet over whether to debate the national ID project probe report.

The report produced by Parliament's committee on defense and internal affairs implicates three former ministers and several government officials in the mismanagement of the project.

The face- off was sparked by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who asked Parliament for three days to enable Cabinet consult on the report and come up with a position on it.

"We are debating matters affecting the State. What is the rush? We need time to study the report and have a position of government. We swear to the principle of collective responsibility, we would not like to sit here and listen," Mbabazi said.

He was backed by Ruhama county MP Janet Museveni who said some ministers had not had time to study the report because they were busy.

"It is not fair to be pushed to debate the report even when some of us have not read it," Museveni said.

Several MPs rejected the request to delay debating the report saying it would increase the backlog of work in Parliament. They said beginning the debate would not mean it was ending and government can listen and come up with its position as the debate goes on.

Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi said NRM government stands by the fight against corruption and should be seen to be fighting corruption.

"We should allow institutions like Parliament to fight corruption and individuals should not suspend institutional decisions in fighting corruption. We are not sitting in Parliament because of ourselves but because of the people who sent us here," Magyezi stressed.

Kinkizi East MP Dr Chris Baryomunsi said Parliament would be misunderstood by the public if they delayed debating the report and taking action on it.

"Let me hope the Prime Minister is not working towards killing the debate on this report and strangle the report. The public should not see us as being scared to debate the report," said Dr. Baryomunsi.

Soroti Municipality MP Mike Mukula pleaded with Mbabazi to allow debate on the report in the interest of fighting corruption and following the NRM manifesto commitment to fight graft.

And indeed the PM conceded and let the debate begin, saying there was overwhelming desire by the House to debate the report.

MP Medard Bitekyerezo called for the arrest of the implicated persons. "I will not support anyone who misappropriates public funds. It is unfortunate for Parliament to witness Ugandans stealing money for IDs," he said.

NRM MP Evelyn Anite said the report was an eye opener of the mismanagement of government projects.

She explained that the public should not be made to pay for the IDs after huge sums of money had been spent on it.

Government in 2010 entered into a sh200 billion contract with German Muhlbauer ID Services for the supply of equipment and provision of services for producing national IDs. But to-date the project has become a subject of a parliamentary probe following its mismanagement.