10 October 2008
Kampala — SECURITY Minister Amama Mbabazi on Tuesday met 12 of the 15 NRM MPs on the Parliamentary Committee investigating the Temangalo land scandal.
The nine-hour meeting took place at the parliamentary office of the Government Chief Whip, Kabakumba Matsiko. Kabakumba's deputy, Cosmas Mafabi chaired the meeting.
According to sources, who attended the meeting, Mbabazi asked the MPs to be objective and make recommendations based on evidence submitted during the investigations. However two NRM MPs, Theodore Ssekikuubo and Henry Banyenzaki later stormed the meeting in protest. They said the meeting was improper.
Temmangalo probe winds up
Finally, tension and panic ceased at Parliament when the committee on Commissions and Statutory authorities completed its investigations on Thursday. The 45-day probe was chaired by two chairpersons John Odit (UPC) and Johnson Malinga (independent). Odit was prematurely sacked from the chairmanship of the committee for allegedly abandoning his duties.
The composition of the NSSF board and the management had been in the spotlight since the committee began probing the purchase of 463 acres of land at sh24m per acre from Arma limited, a company linked to security minister Amama Mbabazi and business man Amosi Nzeyi. The committee investigated whether there was political pressure, influence peddling by Amama and if the procurement procedures were flouted.
The probe will hand over its findings to Parliament in less than a month.
Odit to hand over office
Parliament clerk Aeneas Tandekwire wrote to Former NSSF probe boss John Odit asking him to hand over his office to the newly appointed committee chairperson Johnson Mallinga.
Odit was sacked for abandoning his duties, to travel with President Yoweri Museveni to Iceland without notifying opposition chief whip Wadri Kassiano.
MPS slam pharmacists Bill
MPS on social services committee on Wednesday slammed a proposed law to regulate the practice and training of pharmacists in the country, saying it conflicts and infringes on the existing laws of the medical profession.
The Bill proposes that pharmacists should be independent in their work and should not be subjected to supervision by the health ministry.
Prof. Willy Anokbongo (UPC) said all drugs regulatory bodies must be controlled by the health ministry. He said it's a risk to people's lives to let the pharmacists control the drugs.
MPs defy ban on NSSF talk
Hardly an hour after NRM MPs were forbidden from making further comments on the (NSSF) land deal in the media, the out spoken Henry Banyezaki defied the order saying it was unfair for NRM caucus to tie the MPs' lips. He said the directive was unfair and unconstitutional.
Theodore Sekikubo said the media freeze was misplaced. Sekikubo said the wrong doers should have been banished before stopping the MPs from making public comments.
This followed a directive by the NRM caucus on Monday that MPs should stop commenting on the NSSF land deal in the media.
The caucus resolved that the probe committee investigating the matter will come up joint position on its findings.
Four workers for NSSF board
Cabinet on Tuesday approved four positions for workers to represent on the NSSF Board.
In his letter addressed to National Organisation of Trade Unions and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, the Finance minister Dr. Ezra Suruma outlined the qualifications for appointment. The mominees must have a high level of integrity, no history of fraud or Bankruptcy, and the ability to understand financial matters. They must also appreciate social security and pension matters.
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