Chimpreports.com-Uganda News: Oil Bribe Saga: Mbabazi Wins Round One

Oil Bribe Saga: Mbabazi Wins Round One
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Simon Mukama on 21/02/2012 14:42:00

The Constitutional Court Tuesday ruled Parliament should not force Prime
Minister Amama Mbabazi and Ministers Sam Kutesa and Hilary Onek out of office
over allegations of receiving bribes from Tullow Oil.

The Court, however, led by Deputy Chief Justice Alice Mpagi Bahigeine, noted
Parliament was right to set up a committee to investigate the oil scandal.
This implies Mbabazi and Onek cannot step aside based on the recommendations of
the MPs in their resolutions of October 11 but the investigations can go on as
they hold their offices.
Court had earlier barred the ad-hoc committee from probing the trio pending the
determination of a petition filed by city lawyer Severino Twinobusingye; who
argued Parliament had overstepped its mandate to set up the committee.
Severino had further noted that Parliament acted outside the law when it fell
short of offering Mbabazi a chance to defend himself over the oil saga before
initiating the probe committee.
To Severino, MPs were biased by not providing an impartial platform to the three
government officials to provide their defence.