Appointments committee rescinds position on Nantaba

By John Odyek and Henry Sekanjako

Parliament’s Appointment committee Tuesday finally approved the appointment of Idah Nantaba, Kayunga woman MP as state minister for lands.

The meeting chaired by deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah brought to an end the embattled Nantaba’s quest to be approved minister.

Nantaba arrived in Parliament in a convoy of three vehicles which had about 20 of her supporters. She was accompanied by a lady Nantaba said was her elder sister.

The elder sister kept shielding Nantaba from journalists and other curious members of the public. She tried to take Nantaba through corridors and lifts of Parliament where they hoped to elude journalists.

After spending one hour with the committee Nantaba first declined to speak to journalists and went and sat at the Parliament canteen where she said she would have lunch.

 “I am not happy; I am not dissatisfied with the committee. If the committee approves me, it will be happiness for the people of Kayunga,” Nantaba quipped.

Adding: “If I don’t go through it will be God’s decision. I am not pessimistic or optimistic. There was no bias by the committee. I was asked normal questions by the committee which I answered. When you are in politics you expect to fight when people fight you”.

MPs on the committee said there was no evidence to pin down on Nantaba regarding her moral character or questions of land grabbing, the reasons that committee has given to reject her approval.