Kasaija explains stand-off with Parliament

Jun 26, 2017

Parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga has directed the minister to appear before the committee.

PIC: Speaker Rebecca Kadaga is pictured with Minister Matia Kasaija arriving for the national launch of the Gender and Equity Budgeting Capacity Development Plan at the finance ministry earlier this month. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

PARLIAMENT


KAMPALA - It is quite unusual for a senior finance minister to be dragged before a disciplinary committee. Finance minister Matia Kasaija has stunned the country after he has been caught in a head collision course with Parliament.

Parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga has directed the minister to appear before the committee on rules privileges and discipline to explain why he has been attacking Parliament and refusing to appear before Parliamentary committees.

However Kasaija denies the accusation saying he has been misunderstood by Parliament. Kasaija added that he has received threatening mobile phone calls from some MPs.

"It is a big lie; I have never refused to respond to Parliament. I have never refused to appear before committees. When I do not appear it means I have meetings," Kasaija told the New Vision in a telephone interview over the weekend.

He explained that he was asked to appear before the committee early in the week but on the eve of his appearance he received a telephone call from State House where he was asked to be in a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at 9:00am.

 "I met Gerald Karuhanga, vice chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Speakers office; we agreed to appear before PAC on Thursday at 10:00am. But I could not come because of the meeting at State House. I had promised and hoped to return at midday but we left State House at 6:00pm," Kasaija explained.

He added that while at State House he received a telephone call which was threatening and ordering that he should appear before the committee. "It was a lady calling, that must have been Honourable Angelline Osege chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. I could not hear very well".

 "I don't get threatened myself. Nobody can threaten me. I told Honourable Osege that the President had called me for a meeting with international visitors, could l I leave and come to Parliament," Kasaija said.

Kasaija said they wrote to the committee and spoke to Karuhanga about the short notice.

On the summons to before the disciplinary committee, he responded: "I am waiting for the summons, if they invite me I will appear".

Asked about the accusation that he has been attacking Parliament, he said: " I shall discuss that matter when I meet them (MPs)"

The heads of the public accounts committee and that of the tourism trade and industry committee on Thursday  raised the sticky issue during a plenary sitting accusing  the minister of frustrating the work of the committee.

Osegge Asio Angelline chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee in a statement to Parliament explained that the investigation of a $200m (sh720b)  loan from the PTA Bank was being frustrated by the minister and his team. The loan was intended to buy drugs and support rural electrifications programs.

"The National Medical Stores said no drugs have been bought with that money. The funds have been diverted. We want to know why the funds have been diverted. But the minister and Keith Muhakanizi have refused to appear," Osegge said.

Osegge said in a telephone conversation Kasaija told her: "I will not come to PAC, you cannot do anything to me".

A forth night ago the Public Accounts Committee turned their guns on Muhakanizi accusing him of being arrogant and disrespectful. He had appeared before the committee to explain a loan to the National Medical Stores.

Present was the Bank of Uganda governor Emmanuel Mutebile, Auditor General John Muwanga. Gerald Karuhanga and other members of the committee accused Muhakanizi for calling MPs idle and rumour mongers who are only interested in per diem.

Also accused was Kenneth Mugambe director of budget who is reported to have said MPs are idlers looking for per diem and travel allowances. Muhakanizi apologized to calm the MPs. He denied abusing MPs.

Kenneth Lubogo chairperson of the committee on trade tourism and industry during the plenary accused Kasaija for not appearing before the committee.

He cited one occasion where Kasaija told him: "I am just here at the door step of Parliament. We for two hours until the committee adjourned. We need to take a step so that Parliament is taken seriously".

Kadaga cited another incident where during presentation of the national budget speech on 8th June Kasaija attacked MPs saying they are corrupt.

"On 8th June, the minister made an un-precedented attack on Parliament. It was uncalled for. The minister without any provocation attacked Parliament. It was uncalled for," Kadaga recalled.

"I am referring Kasaija to the committee on rules privileges and discipline for discipline," Kadaga directed.

 

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