MPs want Museveni to declare wealth

By Felix Osikeand Cyprian Musoke MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday demanded that President Yoweri Museveni declares his wealth publicly, to show his commitment to the fight against corruption. The president is among the political leaders who are required by law to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the Inspector General of Government.In a heated debate on the Leadership Code Bill at Grand Imperial Hotel yesterday, the MPs noted the lack of political will at the executive level to stamp out rampant corruption.“It is a good suggestion. I don’t have any problem with that. I believe he (president) is committed to it,” GG Jotham Tumwesigye told the New Vision. He said the president declared his wealth, “sometime back,” and added, “I don’t have an update yet.”Aggrey Awori (Samia Bugwe north), Sebuliba Mutumba (Kawempe south), Ken Lukyamuzi (Rubaga south), Richard Bulamu (Luuka) said the president must set a precedent by declaring his wealth to the public. MPs also demanded for the probe report of Justice Julia Sebutinde on the purchase of junk choppers by the Ministry of Defence officials.Awori said the president should explain how much property he had acquired since he came to power in 1986. He wondered how the president, “ acquired 20 square miles of land and 3,000 head of cattle with an earning of sh10m per month.” Awori also said it was conflict of interest for the president’s daughter, Patience to run a business worth over US$2m of supplying maize to the World Food Programme. Nathan Byanyima (Bukanga) called upon the MPs to cast their vote against corruption by supporting the entire Bill. But he accused Matembe of hiding the chopper report. Ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe assured MPs that there would be no changes in a clause in the Bill requiring declaration of wealth belonging to leader’s spouses, agents and children under 18 years. “The provisions on the declaration of wealth by the spouses is not-negotiable. It cannot be removed, because if removed, it will kill the whole law,” Matembe said.The poorly attended workshop which ends today was organised by the Young Parliamentary Association led by Tororo county MP Geoffrey Ekanya.It was funded by the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa.MPs signed for sh100,000 each as transport charges but some of them disappeared after lunch, causing lack of quorum.