Cyprian Musoke
2 October 2008
Kampala — MPS on Wednesday rejected a report of the select committee on the illegal sale of the Old taxi park plots by Kampala City Council (KCC).
This followed reports that its chairman, Saleh Kamba, had acted contrary to the rules.
Despite calls from several MPs to throw out the report, the House settled for a compromise of referring it to "a more credible" committee on local government to scrutinise it together with an earlier report by Prof. Steven Katorobo.
This was after Nathan Byanyima had tabled a letter dated October 12, 2007 that Kamba had written to the developers and KCC, allowing them to continue developing the plots.
Byanyima said the sitting tenants had to be given priority as was the case in the development of Kisekka, Owino and Nakasero markets.
"KCC offered these tenders on phone. We cannot have 12 developers who are uncoordinated. But before the committee finished its report, the chairman wrote to the developers to start construction, yet there is even a court case," Byanyima said.
In the letter, Kamba told the developers to liaise with KCC and continue building, saying although Parliament had gone on recess before debating the report, he had presented it.
The letter was only copied to the Kampala Town Clerk, the Inspector General of Police, sitting tenants, the developers, LCs and the Minister of Local Government. The minister denied receiving it.
Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said Kamba's decision did not bind Parliament because the Speaker, who sanctioned the probe, did not receive a copy of the communication.
"The chairperson acted unilaterally. He cannot make a decision without communicating to the speaker and other committee members," she said.
Bartille Toskin said the House should demand an explanation from Kamba on why he usurped its powers.
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