Parliament debates NSSF probe report
Nov 04, 2008
THE debate on the NSSF purchase of land at Temangalo kicked off in Parliament yesterday with the Government standing behind the accused ministers and taking the minority report that absolves them.
By Henry Mukasa
and Catherine Bekunda
THE debate on the NSSF purchase of land at Temangalo kicked off in Parliament yesterday with the Government standing behind the accused ministers and taking the minority report that absolves them.
The opposition went with the majority report, saying Suruma and Mbabazi have a case to answer.
The chairman of the parliamentary enterprise committee, Johnson Malinga, presented the main report which accuses Mbabazi and Suruma of violating sections, 8, 12 and 15(d) of the Leadership Code.
“The sanctions provided for should be applied to the ministers,†Malinga said as opposition MPs applauded.
Stephen Tashobya read the minority report that absolves the two ministers as Movement MPs chorused “Aye†in show of approval.
“The ministers did not violate the Leadership Code and sanctions provided for in Section 8 and 12 should not apply to them,†said Tashobya, the Kajara MP.
He started off a debate when he said the evidence of the committee was tempered with and used selectively and subjectively. He said when the Speaker directed the clerk to give the dissenting MPs the report and verbatim transcription of the committee proceedings, they received incomplete items.
However, Ben Wacha (Independent) said Tashobya should have pointed out that the committee clerk had written explaining why some tapes appeared not to be in sequence. The clerk, Martha Kaganzi, in a letter to the Speaker said whenever a presenter would not speak in the microphone or there was conversation, some of the words would not be recorded.
“Tashobya should have come and apologised. It is only logical that way. That part of the minority report must be expunged from the record,†Wacha said.
Abdu Katuntu, who was the committee’s lead counsel and vice-chairman, noted that the allegations of tampering with evidence needed to be investigated because it is criminal and against parliamentary rules. “We cannot have an accusation on the Hansard (official record of Parliament). The people who are making the allegation are here and keeping quiet,†Katuntu said.
Speaker Edward Ssekandi urged MPs to ignore the accusation of tampering with evidence because no one was specifically being accused.
But MPs Justine Lumumba and Leader of Opposition Prof. Ogenga Latigo contended that the matter was not simple and should not be swept under the carpet because it boarded on Parliament commission staff losing their jobs if they are not doing standard work.
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi read out the Government position on the two reports. Like it was decided in the NRM caucus, Nsibambi said the Government absolves the ministers of any wrong doing.
The plenary session attracted an unusual record attendance which surprised Ssekandi.
Chua MP Okello Okello (UPC) mischievously congratulated the Government chief whip Kabakumba Matsiko on mobilising capacity attendance.
Mbabazi who entered the chambers at 2:40pm greeted all MPs he found on his way, even crossing over to the opposition side. He moved straight to where sacked enterprise committee chairman, John Odit sat, gave him a hearty handshake and they talked for a while.
The MPs on the NRM side cheered him. Mbabazi continued as if nothing had happened and moved around the chambers greeting other MPs on the opposition side.
Opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri and shadow finance minister, Nandala Mafabi gestured to the minister that he was facing the axe. He ignored their torment, hugged Wadri and then took his seat.
and Catherine Bekunda
THE debate on the NSSF purchase of land at Temangalo kicked off in Parliament yesterday with the Government standing behind the accused ministers and taking the minority report that absolves them.
The opposition went with the majority report, saying Suruma and Mbabazi have a case to answer.
The chairman of the parliamentary enterprise committee, Johnson Malinga, presented the main report which accuses Mbabazi and Suruma of violating sections, 8, 12 and 15(d) of the Leadership Code.
“The sanctions provided for should be applied to the ministers,†Malinga said as opposition MPs applauded.
Stephen Tashobya read the minority report that absolves the two ministers as Movement MPs chorused “Aye†in show of approval.
“The ministers did not violate the Leadership Code and sanctions provided for in Section 8 and 12 should not apply to them,†said Tashobya, the Kajara MP.
He started off a debate when he said the evidence of the committee was tempered with and used selectively and subjectively. He said when the Speaker directed the clerk to give the dissenting MPs the report and verbatim transcription of the committee proceedings, they received incomplete items.
However, Ben Wacha (Independent) said Tashobya should have pointed out that the committee clerk had written explaining why some tapes appeared not to be in sequence. The clerk, Martha Kaganzi, in a letter to the Speaker said whenever a presenter would not speak in the microphone or there was conversation, some of the words would not be recorded.
“Tashobya should have come and apologised. It is only logical that way. That part of the minority report must be expunged from the record,†Wacha said.
Abdu Katuntu, who was the committee’s lead counsel and vice-chairman, noted that the allegations of tampering with evidence needed to be investigated because it is criminal and against parliamentary rules. “We cannot have an accusation on the Hansard (official record of Parliament). The people who are making the allegation are here and keeping quiet,†Katuntu said.
Speaker Edward Ssekandi urged MPs to ignore the accusation of tampering with evidence because no one was specifically being accused.
But MPs Justine Lumumba and Leader of Opposition Prof. Ogenga Latigo contended that the matter was not simple and should not be swept under the carpet because it boarded on Parliament commission staff losing their jobs if they are not doing standard work.
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi read out the Government position on the two reports. Like it was decided in the NRM caucus, Nsibambi said the Government absolves the ministers of any wrong doing.
The plenary session attracted an unusual record attendance which surprised Ssekandi.
Chua MP Okello Okello (UPC) mischievously congratulated the Government chief whip Kabakumba Matsiko on mobilising capacity attendance.
Mbabazi who entered the chambers at 2:40pm greeted all MPs he found on his way, even crossing over to the opposition side. He moved straight to where sacked enterprise committee chairman, John Odit sat, gave him a hearty handshake and they talked for a while.
The MPs on the NRM side cheered him. Mbabazi continued as if nothing had happened and moved around the chambers greeting other MPs on the opposition side.
Opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri and shadow finance minister, Nandala Mafabi gestured to the minister that he was facing the axe. He ignored their torment, hugged Wadri and then took his seat.