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Uganda: Wadri Pins MP Lubega On CHOGM Bribe
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New Vision (Kampala)
14 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Madinah Tebajjukira
Kampala
I saw Butambala MP Ibrahim Kadunabbi Lubega (NRM) withdrawing a large amount of money from the bank, the opposition Chief Whip, Kassiano Wadri, told the parliamentary discipline committee yesterday.
Wadri suspected that Lubega used the money he got from the Stanbic Bank branch opposite Parliament to bribe MPs.
He was testifying before the committee probing allegations by Aruu MP Odonga Otto that six legislators received a sh170m bribe from the foreign affairs ministry to approve additional funds for the Commonwealth summit.
The MPs are Kadunabbi, Florence Hashaka (NRM), George William Wopuwa (NRM), William Nsubuga (NRM), William Oketcho (Independent) and Rose Akol (NRM).
But during the hearing, Kadunabbi said the money was from the Muslim Trust Fund account for the operations of the Parliamentary Muslim Caucus.
But Wadri insisted that on February 18: "I was at the same bank making a transaction when I saw Kadunabbi withdraw the money. He pocketed a bundle and gave the rest to Hashaka. We came out of the bank and walked to Parliament together."
He added that at that time, he never suspected that the money was a bribe for the legislators.
"But I became suspicious after Otto alleged that some members had received a bribe in connection with the CHOGM budget."
Wadri criticised Otto for blowing the whistle before the matter was investigated.
"I was surprised when Otto brought the issue on the floor of Parliament."
Reagan Okumu (FDC), who also appeared before the same committee, said he had received a complaint from Nsubuga, who wanted him to investigate the matter as the chairperson of a sub-committee of the public accounts committee. "Nsubuga told me that because the distribution of the money was not equitable, some members became restless on learning that their colleagues had got millions yet they were given sh500,000," Okumu said
James Kakooza (NRM) defended Kadunabbi against Otto's accusation that Stanbic Bank sponsored his trip to South Africa in December 2007.
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He said it was fully funded by Parliament.
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