Richard Wanambwa
7 September 2008
Kampala — Nearly a week before Security Minister Amama Mbabazi defended his sale of land to the National Social Security Fund, President Museveni met his ministers in the Cabinet Library and expressly warned them against corruption.
"If you engage in corruption," the President reportedly told his ministers, "I will not protect you but rather the law will deal with you." One of the ministers who attended the meeting chaired by Second Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura on August 27 said: "I think the President did not make that statement out of the blue but that was an eye-opener to Mbabazi that he [should be] aware of what was likely to befall him."
The President came in a little late as ministers were discussing a paper presented by Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi on the Inspectorate of Government and its rocky relationship with other public offices.
"Those fighting for seniority and positions, I don't care," the President reportedly said, alluding to the jostling now going on in the NRM to succeed him as and when he leaves the presidency. "But for you to involve in corruption, I will not protect you."
Mr Mbabazi was not at the meeting because he was travelling outside the country.
The security minister is at the centre of an investigation by Parliament over what increasingly looks like a suspicious sale of real estate to the Fund. Earlier this year, Mr Mbabazi and businessman Amos Nzeyi jointly sold more than 400 acres of land worth Shs11 billion to the NSSF.
But now there are allegations of influence-peddling and price inflation, among others, being levelled against the minister, who also is the secretary general of the ruling NRM party. The Parliament committee, which began investigating the matter on August 23, found out on Thursday that part of the land lies in a wetland and is also partially occupied by squatters, who claim ownership.
Mr Mbabazi, however, protests his innocence. He defended himself before the NRM Caucus on September 1 saying the land transaction was a clean deal.
At the same August 27 Cabinet meeting, sources say, Local Government Minister Kahinda Otafiire reportedly spoke about the public's perception of how the President is approaching the fight against corruption.
"There are allegations that the President is soft and does not punish some people who are involved in corruption because they come from his [western] region," Maj. Gen. Otafiire reportedly said. "We should not take a position when we have not listened to the accused [Mbabazi]. I am a regular victim of all these allegations.
As you all know I was accused of looting Congo's timber, gold. We should be careful because we are in the public court; the events that led to the sacking of [former Labour Minister] Bakoko Bakoru, [NSSF MD] Leonard Mpuuma and former Board Chairman Onegi Obel are still fresh over workers money."
When contacted on Friday for a comment, the minister said: "I don't discuss Cabinet matters with the press and don't be silly."
Ms Bakoru, Mr Mpuuma and Mr Obel were dismissed three years ago when bribery allegations surfaced following a land purchase to build low-cost housing at Nsimbe in Mpigi District.
Sunday Monitor has separately learned that after being briefed by NSSF boss Chandi Jamwa on August 29 at his Kisozi Ranch in Mpigi District, President Museveni summoned Mr Mbabazi days later for a late-night meeting at which he pointed out that the party's image was being affected. The President reportedly proposed that the minister step aside while investigations were underway but Mr Mbabazi assured him that he could ably explain himself to Parliament.
Meanwhile, Sunday Monitor can exclusively reveal information from senior NRM officials that President Museveni has been alarmed by the negative publicity that Mr Mbabazi's transaction is attracting.
It is in this light, they say, that the President has summoned a top party organ to discuss the Mbabazi-NSSF Affair. The Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, at State House Entebbe, will be chaired by the President in his capacity as chairman of the party. The CEC is essentially the Cabinet of the party.
Sunday Monitor has seen a copy of a September 4 letter written by Mr Museveni's Principal Private Secretary Amelia Kyambadde directing Mr Mbabazi to call the meeting.
"Owing to the state funeral of the late Kyabazinga of Busoga on Monday, September 8 2008, His Excellency the President and Chairman of NRM has now directed that you convene the meeting of NRM Central Executive Committee on Tuesday, September 9 2008 at 11 am at State House Entebbe," reads part of the letter.
However, the letter does not specify the agenda of the meeting but sources say the gathering will discuss Mr Mbabazi's land sale and how the public attention it is attracting may be tarnishing the NRM's image.
"The agenda could not be set because the person instructed to arrange the meeting is the one at the centre of the discussions, so it is better for the agenda not to be included," a source said. "Also, majority of our senior members on this committee are all situated in Kampala so we think they know what is happening with the party."
The Tuesday meeting comes after Cabinet met on Wednesday, September 3, where no position was reached on the matter. On Monday the NRM Caucus also failed to agree on whether to rally behind Mr Mbabazi after he presented his defence, resolving instead to wait for the outcome of investigations by Parliament's Committee on Commissions, State Enterprises and Statutory Authorities.
Sunday Monitor has also reliably learned that the ongoing controversy is likely to further complicate the already difficult attempts by the government to amend the existing land law.
"We have organised Baganda because this is their land," a senior NRM member said. "How did Mbabazi acquire this land? The Buganda factor must be mobilised because all along there has been allegations that it is army generals grabbing land. Is Mbabazi an army general?"
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Yoweri Museveni (chairman)
Moses Kigongo (vice chairman)
Rebecca Kagada (vice chairperson representing women)
Amama Mbabazi (secretary general)
Dorothy Hyuha (deputy secretary general)
Jim Muhwezi (veterans)
Ndaula Kaweesi (treasurer)
Singh Katongole (deputy treasurer)
Hassan Basajjabalaba (entrepreneurs)
Mike Mukula (vice chairman, eastern)
Gilbert Bukenya (vice chairman, central)
Matayo Kyaligonza (vice chairman, western)
Moses Ali (vice chairman, northern)
Namirembe Bitamazire (Women's League)
Charles Bakkabulindi (Worker's League)
Fred Mukisa (elderly)
Abbas Agaba (youth)
Kirunda Kivejinja (historicals).
Most Popular
Drama at NRM caucus meeting
Mengo fires back at President Museveni
Kyabazinga succession: Fight for crown leaves no clear favourite
How Busoga elects its Kyabazinga
Problem of Africa's poor reading culture re-examined
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
