MPs summon Ssempebwa
Nov 18, 2003
THE chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa, yesterday confessed that there has been a leakage of information from the commission.
By John Kakande
THE chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa, yesterday confessed that there has been a leakage of information from the commission.
Ssempebwa, however, assured MPs that when the report is presented to the Government, he would speak out if it were tampered with.
He said the commission was “worried†that the delay to submit the report could constrain the transition (from the Movement system to multiparties). He said the delay was partly due to poor funding. He said the CRC members had not been paid for three months.
Ssempebwa appeared before the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs with the commission secretary, Dr Higiro Semajege, to discuss matters related to funding the CRC and explain why their report was not ready by the August 2003 deadline.
Committee chairperson Dora Byamukama and MPs Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, Aggrey Awori, Ben Wacha, Sarah Kiyingi, Christopher Kibanzanga, Fred Ruhindi, Jacob Oulanyah and Abdu Katuntu raised several issues, including leakage of information on the CRC’s work.
Awori said, “During the last 48 hours, the political atmosphere has been polluted†by the leakage of the CRC report. He asked Ssempebwa to comment on the leakage. “We are sorry something leaked when there was nothing final yet,†said Ssempebwa, who sounded helpless about the leakage. He did not say if what appeared in press was accurate. The MPs also did not pursue the matter.
“This is the second time (a leakage occurs). The first time we thought it was an attempt to interfere with our work. Even when Cabinet sits, next morning The New Vision...Yet Cabinet is so confidential,†he said.
He said it was not easy to tell who was leaking the information. “You look at each other...you look at him and wonder whether he is the one. He also looks at you wondering whether you are the one. You cannot blame anyone,â€
Ssempebwa said. He, however, insisted that no one had interfered with their work and that their relationship with constitutional affairs minister Janat Mukwaya was harmonious.
The Monitor reported on Monday that the CRC had rejected a Cabinet proposal to lift the presidential two-term limit. The Government secured a court injunction stopping the paper from publishing more contents of the report.
“We are worried if we do not conclude, everything may fall out of step. It could be like the Kenyan way,†said Ssempebwa. During a run-up to the general elections in Kenya last year, former President Daniel arap Moi suspended the constitutional review process over time. The process resumed after the elections.
MPs expressed fear that the Government might alter the CRC report and recommendations. They wanted to know if the commission could release an executive summary.
“I am an honest man. I will say I did not write that in the report,†said Ssempebwa. “Donors have never given us any money, but this time donors are willing to pay for printing copies of the report,†he said, adding that it was not his mandate to release an executive summary.
“We have names to protect. We do not want to be accused of turning this into a career,†he said.
The MPs asked Ssempebwa about the Cabinet’s decision to present proposals to the CRC. “It is not usual for the Government to give proposals to a commission which is to report to the same authority,†he said but added “precedents are created.†He said the proposals would be treated like any other.
THE chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa, yesterday confessed that there has been a leakage of information from the commission.
Ssempebwa, however, assured MPs that when the report is presented to the Government, he would speak out if it were tampered with.
He said the commission was “worried†that the delay to submit the report could constrain the transition (from the Movement system to multiparties). He said the delay was partly due to poor funding. He said the CRC members had not been paid for three months.
Ssempebwa appeared before the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs with the commission secretary, Dr Higiro Semajege, to discuss matters related to funding the CRC and explain why their report was not ready by the August 2003 deadline.
Committee chairperson Dora Byamukama and MPs Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, Aggrey Awori, Ben Wacha, Sarah Kiyingi, Christopher Kibanzanga, Fred Ruhindi, Jacob Oulanyah and Abdu Katuntu raised several issues, including leakage of information on the CRC’s work.
Awori said, “During the last 48 hours, the political atmosphere has been polluted†by the leakage of the CRC report. He asked Ssempebwa to comment on the leakage. “We are sorry something leaked when there was nothing final yet,†said Ssempebwa, who sounded helpless about the leakage. He did not say if what appeared in press was accurate. The MPs also did not pursue the matter.
“This is the second time (a leakage occurs). The first time we thought it was an attempt to interfere with our work. Even when Cabinet sits, next morning The New Vision...Yet Cabinet is so confidential,†he said.
He said it was not easy to tell who was leaking the information. “You look at each other...you look at him and wonder whether he is the one. He also looks at you wondering whether you are the one. You cannot blame anyone,â€
Ssempebwa said. He, however, insisted that no one had interfered with their work and that their relationship with constitutional affairs minister Janat Mukwaya was harmonious.
The Monitor reported on Monday that the CRC had rejected a Cabinet proposal to lift the presidential two-term limit. The Government secured a court injunction stopping the paper from publishing more contents of the report.
“We are worried if we do not conclude, everything may fall out of step. It could be like the Kenyan way,†said Ssempebwa. During a run-up to the general elections in Kenya last year, former President Daniel arap Moi suspended the constitutional review process over time. The process resumed after the elections.
MPs expressed fear that the Government might alter the CRC report and recommendations. They wanted to know if the commission could release an executive summary.
“I am an honest man. I will say I did not write that in the report,†said Ssempebwa. “Donors have never given us any money, but this time donors are willing to pay for printing copies of the report,†he said, adding that it was not his mandate to release an executive summary.
“We have names to protect. We do not want to be accused of turning this into a career,†he said.
The MPs asked Ssempebwa about the Cabinet’s decision to present proposals to the CRC. “It is not usual for the Government to give proposals to a commission which is to report to the same authority,†he said but added “precedents are created.†He said the proposals would be treated like any other.