Tribunal report not ready

By Juliet Waiswa

THE tribunal secretary Robert Kirunda has refuted allegations that a draft copy of the tribunal’s report has leaked. Kirunda who is also the tribunal’s spokesperson said that he is responsible for bidding the said report, but has not yet seen the draft copy. 

Reacting to media reports that a draft report is already out, Kirunda said, “Those are speculations.  I have neither seen the draft report nor signed anything to that effect. When the report is ready Lukwago and others will have the opportunity to receive a copy.” 

Media reports had stated that Lukwago and Member of Parliament Kyadondo County East Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and former Mayor Nasser Sebagala had seen the report.

“They are saying the saw the report. Let them saw us the draft,” Kirunda said.

The tribunal was set up by Kampala minister Frank Tumwebaze to investigate allegations against city Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago. On 15 May a team of 17 councilors petitioned Tumwebaze accusing Lukwago of abuse of office, misconduct, and failure to convene council meetings.

Kirunda said that the team leading the investigations in the matter is still studying the document which he said is approximately 3,000 pages.

“The team is still studying both the witness’s evidence and the accused’s defence, it will take us close to three weeks before we release the report,” Kirunda told the New Vision. 

The tribunal chairperson is Anti-Corruption Court judge Catherine Bamugemereire, together with lawyer Alfred Okello-Oryem; an expert in public service and civil litigation, and Ocaya Lakidi; a retired civil servant and former secretary to the judiciary.

The tribunal was instituted by Tumwebaze on June 5. It is expected to determine whether the contents of the petition hold sufficient grounds for the removal of the Lord Mayor from office.