Parliament starts debate on Chogm report
Oct 27, 2010
PARLIAMENT yesterday started debate on the long-awaited CHOGM report, with legislators from the opposition demanding the resignation of those implicated.
By Milton Olupot
and Catherine Bekunda
PARLIAMENT yesterday started debate on the long-awaited CHOGM report, with legislators from the opposition demanding the resignation of those implicated.
Most MPs called for the adoption of the report, which recommended prosecution of those involved.
The opening of the debate, presided over by Speaker Edward Ssekandi, saw only the opposition MPs contributing. Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM) attempted to contribute but was stopped because he was part of the public accounts committee that wrote the report.
The report implicates top government officials, including Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya. The culprits are accused of causing loss of billions of shillings during the Commonwealth summit held in Kampala in 2007.
The Government had initially planned to spend only sh270b, but according to the report, over sh500b was spent.
The findings in the report include critical roads not repaired in favour of private properties, irregularities in the procurement of cars, inflated costs in the beautification project, on roads, media and publicity.
Agriculture minister Hope Mwesigye, who was then local government boss, again tried to block the debate in vain, claiming she had not finished compiling her defence. She argued that she had not been accorded a fair hearing by the committee.
However, public accounts committee chairman Nandala Mafabi said she refused to appear before the committee despite several summons.
Mwesigye is accused of flouting procurement rules during the award of contracts to firms that carried out the beautification of Kampala ahead of Chogm. She is also required to explain the whereabouts of the money that was collected from the exhibition held at the Shimoni grounds.
The Speaker rejected Mwesigye’s pleas and ordered that the debate takes off. He ruled that issues relating to Mwesigye be skipped until she presents her defence to the House next week.
Chwa MP Okello-Okello (UPC) said the report exposed the worst form of plundering of public resources.
“What we take as a government in Uganda is an organised system of plunder. There is nowhere else ministers do this and keep in the offices smiling,†he said.
John Arumadri (FDC) urged those implicated in the report to present themselves in court for clearance.
Christine Abia (FDC) predicted that the implicated members would defend themselves and get away with it, but their conscience would remain dirty for generations.
Odonga Otto (FDC) expressed anger that the implicated ministers were not apologetic.
Erias Lukwago (DP) urged fellow MPs to take a decision for the good of the country, adding that he was shocked by the sh195m spent on washing cars and sh5b used to procure 80 motorbikes for the Police.
Latiff Sebagala (DP) said the report was a test to the NRM’s rhetoric on zero tolerance to corruption.
Environment state minister Jessica Eriyo complained that she had been named as one of the ministers implicated but had not been given a hearing by the committee.
She said she was also not part of the decision-making committee and demanded that she be exonerated. Debate continued today.
and Catherine Bekunda
PARLIAMENT yesterday started debate on the long-awaited CHOGM report, with legislators from the opposition demanding the resignation of those implicated.
Most MPs called for the adoption of the report, which recommended prosecution of those involved.
The opening of the debate, presided over by Speaker Edward Ssekandi, saw only the opposition MPs contributing. Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM) attempted to contribute but was stopped because he was part of the public accounts committee that wrote the report.
The report implicates top government officials, including Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya. The culprits are accused of causing loss of billions of shillings during the Commonwealth summit held in Kampala in 2007.
The Government had initially planned to spend only sh270b, but according to the report, over sh500b was spent.
The findings in the report include critical roads not repaired in favour of private properties, irregularities in the procurement of cars, inflated costs in the beautification project, on roads, media and publicity.
Agriculture minister Hope Mwesigye, who was then local government boss, again tried to block the debate in vain, claiming she had not finished compiling her defence. She argued that she had not been accorded a fair hearing by the committee.
However, public accounts committee chairman Nandala Mafabi said she refused to appear before the committee despite several summons.
Mwesigye is accused of flouting procurement rules during the award of contracts to firms that carried out the beautification of Kampala ahead of Chogm. She is also required to explain the whereabouts of the money that was collected from the exhibition held at the Shimoni grounds.
The Speaker rejected Mwesigye’s pleas and ordered that the debate takes off. He ruled that issues relating to Mwesigye be skipped until she presents her defence to the House next week.
Chwa MP Okello-Okello (UPC) said the report exposed the worst form of plundering of public resources.
“What we take as a government in Uganda is an organised system of plunder. There is nowhere else ministers do this and keep in the offices smiling,†he said.
John Arumadri (FDC) urged those implicated in the report to present themselves in court for clearance.
Christine Abia (FDC) predicted that the implicated members would defend themselves and get away with it, but their conscience would remain dirty for generations.
Odonga Otto (FDC) expressed anger that the implicated ministers were not apologetic.
Erias Lukwago (DP) urged fellow MPs to take a decision for the good of the country, adding that he was shocked by the sh195m spent on washing cars and sh5b used to procure 80 motorbikes for the Police.
Latiff Sebagala (DP) said the report was a test to the NRM’s rhetoric on zero tolerance to corruption.
Environment state minister Jessica Eriyo complained that she had been named as one of the ministers implicated but had not been given a hearing by the committee.
She said she was also not part of the decision-making committee and demanded that she be exonerated. Debate continued today.