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Oil debate: Pressure mounts on accused ministers to resign
Publish Date: Oct 11, 2011
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     By Apollo Mubiru  

    Pressure is mounting against ministers accused of soliciting for bribes in the oil deals to resign as Parliament on Tuesday continued with debate on the controversial oil sharing and production agreement.

    Two senior ministers Sam Kutesa (Foreign affairs) and Hillary Onek (Internal affairs) were accused of taking bribes from oil companies. The ministers vehemently denied the claims.

    Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi defended her daughter, Nina for her links with companies involved oil business. He said the documents presented would give a rich beginning for investigations.

    After reiterating the government’s commitment to fight corruption, the Premier said he backed MPs’ call to investigate the oil transaction deals.

    “Madam Speaker, if my daughter (Nina Mbabazi) was involved in business with Tullow, what is the problem with that? My children do not ask me for permission to do business, Mbabazi submitted amid shout from MPs.

    Terego County MP Kassiano Wadri had earlier called on Onek to resign. “You’re a disgrace to us northerners. If it’s true that you solicited for a bribe, save us the trouble of censuring you and resign now,” he said drawing foot stamping from MPs.

    Wadri added that as the chairperson of the Public accounts committee, he was ‘breathing’ vital information to implicate the accused ministers.

    To prove his innocence, Onek said he was willing to resign if he is found guilty. “What is in being a Minister? I can resign,” he said as MPs shouted shame…shame...  

    Kutesa said he supported the motion because it was healthy to debate public matters.  He said it was important to have a vibrant parliament which keeps government on its toes.

    He however, warned that the debate should be based on facts and that desire to correct the wrongs in the country.

    “Can you believe that a staggering 17 million Euros was given to me? I have never seen a person with an account of that money. I want to say that a bribe from to Tullow to Kutesa and Onek is not new. The allegations has bee around for about a year but it is not new,” he said.

    According to Kutesa, the allegation was a creation of the media.
     

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lets not be too haste to pass judgment on to others, baseless allegations have been against the ministers we have all been aware of this since it has been around for over a year now. we also heard yesterday that investigations were done. let them publish the investigation report to reassure us that actually something was done about this earlier or else lets wait until new investigations are done and the above are really found guilty before we start prosecuting them.
| kampala
how come people in power never seem to be conscious of the well fare of this country, do they rely believe that if they do something good for the country they will never benefit from it? i strongly believe that if this country develops with 10% more than it is doing right now the people of Uganda will get job opportunities which will lead to better standards and those in power will be proud of their leadership and definitely we shall be proud of them!
| kampala
Where is the picture of Mbabazi,you guys at New vision have turned this paper into Museveni''s mouthpiece as if we Ugandans who own it don''t matter.whenever Mbabazi is being exposed you fight tooth and nail to bail him out.Your sycophancy has gone too far,what kind of journalism are you practicing???? There three people being exposed including Mbabazi for soliciting bribes......shame on you...i know this means nothing for you.........your time is coming soon
| Dubai
We want facts not just hear say! since sekikubo and his group said they bank accts were the money was wired for kutesa anek and mbabazi let them get print out( statement) for those acct and make it public bank name country and the bal sekikubo and group they are not after oil agremment bt kutesa mbabazi onek is just by way! 2days u are debating oil issues sugar in uganda has not gone down, families go without food MPs are busy with kutesa and group were does some1 with food benefit in this debate???????????????????????????????????
| Kampala
Freeze their assets.
| Mbarara
I too would support that the ministers do resign.It is a big shame that the people we the young generation look at as role models are actually thieves.congraturation to Hon. Karuhanga.Uganda is truly proud of you
| Kampala
I really believe that there was something wrong in the deal, this can be proved by the fact that the president/government instituted an investigation on the matter. let these ministers resign as investigations are going on. Ugandans are tied of being robed. enough is enough let them bring back the country man.
| Nbi
In civilised countries, it wouldnt take MPs to call for the resignation of these ministers; they would do it on their own to allow room for investigations; alas! in Uganda, inspite of evidence available, ministers hang on trying to defend themselves. It is a great shame for this country that before actual oil production commences, the oil sector is already in this magnitude of corruption! What will happen when the actual production starts? Do these ministers and whoever else involved in the oil deals know that this oil is national resource NOT personal resource? Ugandans have every right to defend their resources if some individuals think they can abuse national resources like that. The president should send these ministers named in the scandle out of office to allow for thorough and uninterrupted investigations. God should save this country from such hyenas.