Cabinet Asks MPs To Delay UCB Debate

By John Kakande and Richard Mutumba CABINET has requested Parliament to delay the debate on Aggrey Awori's motion seeking to reserve 51% of the shares of Uganda Commercial Bank for Ugandans. Finance minister Gerald Ssendaula told Parliament yesterday that the newly-appointed Cabinet needed at least three weeks to study the motion and take a position. He said there would be no sale of UCB before the motion is debated. MPs behind the motion agreed to Ssendaula's request but warned that he would be censured should the Bank be sold to pre-empt their motion. Ssendaula, sworn-in as an ex-officio MP yesterday, said Cabinet shared the concern and sentiments of the movers of the motion. He said the Government had no intention to hurriedly sale UCB behind the back of Parliament. Margaret Zziwa (Kampala Woman), one of the co-sponsors of the motion, argued that donors were pressurising Uganda to sale UCB. Ken Lukyamuzi (Lubaga South) had earlier wanted to move a motion without notice for a resolution urging the Government to suspend the sale of UCB until Parliament has debated the matter. Ends