Kampala — Security minister Amama Mbabazi and former health minister Jim Muhwezi yesterday clashed on the floor of Parliament over allegations that the latter was involved in a foiled bank robbery.

Muhwezi kicked off the storm when he told the House, presided over by the deputy speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, that the security of MPs and the unity of the NRM were at stake for the sake of Mbabazi's survival.

Muhwezi said he was being dragged into the purported fraud at Stanbic Bank because he had been critical of the NSSF purchase of land at sh11b from businessman Amos Nzeyi and Arma Limited, a company linked to Mbabazi.

The Rujumbura MP said he was being framed by Mbabazi, his henchmen and security operatives to charge him with "aggravated robbery", which carries a death sentence. He acknowledged he had been summoned to appear at CID today. "I am going to face these conspirators who are after me for reasons known to them and not known to the country," he stated as the awed MPs listened.

In his statement, Muhwezi accused Mbabazi of having had dinner with Justus Kashoma, the prime suspect in the robbery, before the events unfolded. He said as a former head of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), he could not have colluded with his guards.

"Some of them were deployed at my property to do their intelligence on me, which I am aware of. ISO guards could have reason to frame me because they work with an organisation which is under Mbabazi. They guard and also monitor you. How could I be so foolish to send them to rob a bank?" he asked.

Muhwezi said a National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda and attended by Mbabazi, recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge him with aggravated robbery.

He said a number of MPs had written to President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as the NRM chairman to assure them that their security was guaranteed. He urged peace-loving Ugandans to prevail over people whom he said had "seized the security, intelligence and justice of the country, to follow their personal ambitions and vendetta".

Muhwezi said the plot began when Kashoma went to him and said he wanted to buy land. He said he learnt later from a relative that Kashoma had been arrested.

He read in the media that Kashoma had gone to Stanbic to withdraw money with a cheque, he said, suggesting the man could have gone with armed friends to guard his money.

"Recently, a PGB (Presidential Guard Brigade) soldier was involved in a robbery. Who do PGB soldiers guard? Is Rugunda waiting for the President's term of office to end and charge him?" Muhwezi asked.

Immediately after his statement, Rugunda took the floor. He denied there had been a special meeting of the National Security Committee to discuss the impending prosecution of Muhwezi.

"It is not true that the reported prosecution of Jim Muhwezi has been discussed in an impromptu meeting of the National Security Committee," he stated.

He also said Mbabazi had not attended any of the security meetings for one month.

"The minister of security is a member of the NSC but for the last four weeks, he has not attended the meetings because of other commitments."

He said Muhwezi's case was being handled by the relevant institutions. "Uganda is governed by the rule of law. There is no way the NSC could interfere or arrogate the duties of specified institutions."

There was total silence when Mbabazi stood to speak. "When you see a military general in a state of panic, then you know the ground cannot hold," he started. But Muhwezi interjected, accusing instead Mbabazi of being in a state of panic "running from radio to radio".

In his brief response, Mbabazi denied having had dinner with Kashoma or attending the National Security Committee meeting.

"All I would wish to advise my brother is that when he is suspected of having participated in activities that are criminal, the Police investigate and if you have answers, go and deliver them."

Rubanda West MP Henry Banyenzaki supported Muhwezi, arguing that the security of some MPs had been undermined. He said Mbabazi had warned him that he had the capacity to fight him.

Banyenzaki also said Kashoma had wanted to hire his Lexus car but he refused claiming he was traveling upcountry.

The Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, directed Rugunda to ensure that the security of MPs was guaranteed. When some MPs murmured, he urged those who would still feel insecure to contact him.

Asked afterwards if Muhwezi was accusing the members of the National Security Committee of having organised the bank robbery to set him up, Rugunda said: "By implication, yes, which, of course, is false and ridiculous".

The committee consists of the ministers of internal affairs, defence and security, the chiefs of ISO, ESO, CMI, the Police and the army.

"There is no cover-up. There is no conspiracy. There is no framing or witch-hunting of anybody," Rugunda told The New Vision.

"The Police is doing its normal duty of investigating crime. The DPP, being an independent institution under the Constitution, decides on whether or not to prosecute based on the evidence from the Police."

He urged everybody to allow the Police to complete its investigations. "Our intention is that justice is done and the rule of law ensured."