Chaos as MPs clash over KCCA report

May 22, 2013

Attempts to resolve an impasse over the authenticity of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) report seems to be heading for a dead-end.

By Moses Walubiri and Henry Sekanjako

Attempts to resolve an impasse over the authenticity of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) report seems to be heading for a dead-end as MPs engage in acrimonious verbal exchanges.

The meeting on Wednesday by MPs on the Public Service and Local Government committee of parliament ordered by Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, after questions about the authenticity of KCCA report caused the House debate on the contentious report to be deferred ounce again.

The meeting that was initially scheduled for 9am kicked two hours late, as MPs traded bare knuckle exchanges over whether legislators who are nonmembers could be allowed to participate in the ensuing heated debate.

Although committee chairperson, Florence Kintu, relented and allowed nonmembers like Francis Epetaiti, Moses Kasibante and Joseph Ssewungu to remain, she threatened to throw them out if their submissions breached parliamentary decorum.

However, Kintu later sparked a storm when she ordered Kasibante to cede his seat to committee member Florence Mutyabule.

“Who is inferior to the other here? Shame, shame,” MPs Ssewungu and Nambooze shouted, as Santa Alum ceded her seat for Mutyabule to put out the fire.

However, Kintu has decided to adjourn the meeting after MPs Nambooze and Roland Mugume insisted that they be furnished with the committee minutes upon which the report was premised.

“We are members of this committee and we are not going to be intimidated,” Mugume said as the committee degenerated into a shouting match.

The KCCA report has spawned a heated debate since its release last week, especially its recommendation that the president be allowed to take over the executive and administrative functions at KCCA for a period not exceeding six months.

The caucus of the ruling NRM sat on Monday over the issue, and sources privy to the proceedings say members supported the ‘controversial’ recommendation.

The KCCA report is a result of a petition to parliament by Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, over allegation of gross mismanagement of the city by KCCA Executive Director, Jennifer Semakula Musisi, through intentional misinterpretation of the KCCA Act.

 

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