Access to declared wealth restricted

By Richard MutumbaMEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) have approved an amendment in the proposed Leadership Code Bill, barring the public from having direct access to leaders’ declared wealth. MPs on the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs yesterday unanimously agreed that access by the public to leaders’ wealth should be by application to court.The legislators last week failed to agree on whether the public should have direct access to declared property under the Leadership Code.The committee also approved a provision on conflict of interest (Clause 8) providing that leaders shall not place themselves in positions which might compromise the proper exercise of their official duties.In her proposed amendment to the committee, ethics and integrity state minister Miria Matembe said declared wealth should be accessible to the public on application to the Inspector General of Government. The current LeadershipCode treats declared wealth of leaders as a secret.Whereas the majority of members on the committee wanted their declarations to remain a secret as it is provided for in the present law, others like Omara Atubo said it should be accessible on application to the IGG.The committee argued that it was unconstitutional to make private property public, citing Article 27 (2) of the Constitution.