Sheila Naturinda
30 May 2008
Parliament — A parliamentary committee chairman has accused the ruling NRM party of planting spies in their midst.
Matters came to a head when a stranger attended a Wednesday session of the parliamentary committee on Commissions, State Enterprises and Statutory Authorities, chaired by Mr John Odit (UPC, Erute South)
"Mr Ninsiima Emanuel Innocent was introduced as a parliamentary assistant by one of the assistant clerks," Mr Odit said.
Mr Odit added that the 'stranger' said he was employed by the government chief whip, Ms Matsiko Kabakumba (Bujenje County) and there were five others all attached to the chief whip's office.
"Their work is to report daily the activities of this committee to the chief whip," Mr Odit said. He added that the gentleman was introduced to the committee by Mr Lawrence Mujuni, one of the assistant parliamentary clerks.
"The clerk said it was an agreement between the chief whip and the leader of the opposition (Prof. Ogenga Latigo). The clerk however said he was not aware of that recruitment," he added.
Asked what they intended to do about the issue, Mr Odit said the committee was launching an investigation.
"If someone comes to spy on this committee, it should be our work to investigate the person and know the reasons for such intentions." he said.
He added: "We are not aware that the chief whip has the mandate to recruit and employ people to work in Parliament." The opposition chief whip, Mr Kassiano Wadri (Terego County) who represented Prof. Latigo, denied having an arrangement with the NRM chief whip to recruit the so-called parliamentary assistants.
"It's my duty and responsibility to supervise any committee if I want to but I never delegate, I always do my work personally," he said.
He said the matter had come to him the same day as he was talking to some of his colleagues around the Parliament buildings.
He added: "The office of the Leader of Opposition does not recruit parliamentary assistants." Mr Wadri described the matter as strange and said it could be an 'eye opener' to the people around the buildings.
"There is no way the Leader of Opposition could have gone into such, it however should not just be rubbished, the matter should be investigated," he added.
He, however, told the committee members not to be intimidated by anybody saying they deserved 'latitude to work.'
He said Ms Matsiko should only assign duties to NRM people, not recruit new ones, adding, however, that she should be given an opportunity to explain the matter. "We have only seen one of the five, we do not know where others are," he said.
Ms Matsiko when contacted admitted that she had employed the said people, adding, they 'may be more than five.' She said they were meant to track business in the committees and give her feedback which she would then give to the 'party and my colleagues.'
Ms Matsiko added: "As you know I play a supportive role to the leader of government business and the general government. We therefore need to know how the business in all these committees goes."
Asked if she had arranged it with the leader of opposition, she said she would not arrange such a thing with the opposition.
"How can I agree with the leader of opposition how to employ my staff?" she asked. She said the clerk probably misheard her and reported that it was the leader of opposition instead of the leader of government business.
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