Kasujja Sacked

Aug 01, 2002

Electoral Commission (EC) chairman Hajji Aziz Kasujja and five other commissioners were yesterday relieved of their duties and told to leave the commission offices immediately.

By Hamis Kaheruand Felix OsikeElectoral Commission (EC) chairman Hajji Aziz Kasujja and five other commissioners were yesterday relieved of their duties and told to leave the commission offices immediately.“A call came from State House yesterday (Tuesday) telling them to stop working with effect from today (Wednesday),” a source told The New Vision yesterday morning.“All the commissioners except Margaret Magoba are leaving. Kasujja was directed to hand over to Magoba. Sam Rwakoojo (secretary) is also staying behind,” the source said.When contacted by telephone yesterday, Kasujja retorted, “Why don’t you confirm that information from State House? Me, I am in my (EC) office.”Rwakoojo, who was in a meeting with Kasujja in the latter’s office a few moments before The New Vision contacted him on his mobile phone, denied knowledge of the sacking. The information was finally confirmed in the evening by Moses Byaruhanga, President Museveni’s private secretary on political affairs. “It is true six commissioners have been relieved of their duties. Sister Magoba will be acting head of the commission until a new head is appointed,” Byaruhanga said.The six are Kasujja, his deputy Mrs. Florence Nkurukenda, Hadija Nasanga Miiro, Ted Wamusi, Robert Kitariko and Charles Dickens Owiny. “The President took action based on previous investigative reports on the EC by the IGG and CID,” Byaruhanga said. Mary Karooro Okurut, the president’s press secretary, also said in a statement last evening that the commissioners were “retired in public interest” and that “their retirement takes immediate effect.”The statement said Sr. Magoba will be in-charge of all EC matters until a new chairperson, deputy and other four commissioners are appointed.It was quiet at the commission offices when The New Vision visited it. The Police guards at the gate barred visitors from entering the premises.Vehicles with tinted glass screens moved in and out and it was not possible to identify the occupants.Article 60 of the 1995 Constitution says a member of the commission may be removed from office by the President only for incompetence, misbehaviour or misconduct and inability to perform the functions of his or her office arising out of physical or mental incapacity.Clause 2 of the same Article requires members of the commission to be of high moral character, proven integrity and to possess considerable experience and demonstrate competence in conduct of public affairs.The IGG, Jotham Tumwesigye, recently recommended in an 84-page report to President Yoweri Museveni that the EC leadership be replaced for mismanaging public funds in billions of shillings, incompetence and lack of integrity.The IGG pinned Kasujja, Miiro and Wamusi for allowing companies in which they have interests to do business with the EC contrary to the Leadership Code.The IGG also directed the Bank of Uganda to impose sanctions against Prime Forex Bureau for “violating the regulations in place by accepting cash deposits” from the EC officials in shady dealings involving more than sh100m.The IGG also recommended that EC officials, Andrew Muwonge (secretary-interdicted), David Patrick Kanakulya (head of finance-interdicted), Efrance Kiwanuka (Director Finance-interdicted), Herbert Ssebunya (finance department), Aida Nankumba (finance department) and Susan Wanume (finance department) be dismissed immediately and prosecuted for causing financial loss to Government and abuse of office.He accused the commissioners and other top staff of peddling influence in the recruitment of staff. Ends

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