Suruma flees from probe committee

Sep 29, 2008

THERE was drama in Parliament yesterday as finance minister Ezra Suruma fled from the NSSF probe committee that had been waiting for him for almost one hour.

By Milton Olupot and Mary Karugaba

THERE was drama in Parliament yesterday as finance minister Ezra Suruma fled from the NSSF probe committee that had been waiting for him for almost one hour.

Suruma was expected to appear before the committee investigating the controversial sale of land to NSSF by city businessman Amos Nzeyi and Arma Ltd, a firm linked to security minister Amama Mbabazi.

Suruma reportedly sent a message on Tuesday morning to the new chairman, Johnson Malinga, informing him that he would not be able to appear because he had to attend the budget appropriations committee. He requested to testify after the budget process was concluded.

After being told that the minister would not appear, the committee members expressed anger and held a meeting to discuss which action to take against him.

As fate would have it, Suruma strayed into the room, mistaking it to be for the Budget committee.

MPs shouted: “He has come, he is here!” A puzzled Suruma stood at the doorway, looked around and asked: “Am I in the right place?” as MPs ushered him into the witness chair.

“We would like to express our displeasure as to how you are handling the committee,” Malinga said. “But we are grateful that you have come to state your case.”

As Reagan Okumu (FDC) was raising objections to whether or not the finance minister should be allowed to appear, Suruma suddenly shot off his seat, picked his files and headed for the exit, as MPs shouted: “Sit down! Wait for the ruling! Call the sergeant at arms!” Suruma did not heed to the calls as he ran off, shouting back: “The other committee is waiting for me.”

The committee reluctantly agreed that the minister be given another chance to appear.

Malinga warned some members against talking on behalf of the committee. He also warned NSSF against placing advertisements in the media on issues relating to the matter under investigation. If it continued, he said, the committee would direct the supervising minister to suspend the Fund’s management.

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