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Plain textParliament Names Oil Bribe Scandal Probe Today
All eyes are on Parliament today as Speaker Rebecca Kadaga names an adhoc committee to probe three ministers and top government officials suspected to have accepted bribes from oil companies.
Kadaga told the House Tuesday she would name the committee today to start investigations into reports that Amama Mbabazi (Premier), Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) and Hilary Onek (Internal Affairs) received millions of Euros for favour oil extraction deals in Uganda.
Western Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga told Parliament two weeks ago he had received documents from US embassy implicating the Ministers.
The three ministers have vehemently denied the allegations.
President Yoweri Museveni has separately said Karuhanga’s documents are forgeries.
Parliament told the trio to step down to allow investigations into the matter.
Kutesa has since stepped down to allow investigations into a separate scandal in which he is accused of having caused government Shs14bn loss during preparations for 2007 Common Wealth meeting in Kampala.
Onek said he would handover office as soon as the oil bribe committee is set up.
Mbabazi has insisted he is not stepping down on mere falsehoods, despite calls from army representative Gen. Elly Tumwiine to respect Parliament.
Kadaga’s choice of legislators on the committee is crucial in determining the outcome of the investigation.
Observers say she needs to appoint an equal number from both opposition and ruling NRM party to boost public confidence and avoid conflict of interest.
However, MPs on such committees have been accused of taking bribes.
Whether the oil gate committee will exercise its mandate with fairness, time will tell.
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Updated on 2013-05-09 09:25 |
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