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Uganda: NSSF Inquiry - MPs Split

Emmanuel Gyezaho, Sheila Naturinda and Mercy Nalugo

14 October 2008

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Kampala — Sharp divisions have rocked the parliamentary committee investigating NSSF's land deal with Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and business partner Amos Nzeyi.

It emerged yesterday that the MPs were deeply split over a crucial term of reference, a disagreement that effectively sent the committee back to the drawing board and will dent the prospects of having its much anticipated inquiry report finalised by the Wednesday deadline.

The committee is now split between a pro-Mbabazi group and an anti-Mbabazi clique. Rubanda East MP Pereza Ahabwe is reportedly at the centre of the disagreements and had quit the committee on Monday night, packing his bags and leaving Entebbe Windsor Hotel, where the MPs are retreating to draft their report.

However, the MP told Daily Monitor yesterday that he was a victim of claims by "bad elements", stating that he had not resigned, but had only "gone home to check on my family."

A member, who begged anonymity said a Sunday meeting of the committee "broke down" after MPs disagreed on whether to regard the NSSF transaction an investment or a procurement deal, a critical issue in determining Mr Mbabazi's fate as regards the deal.

"Some wanted Mr Mbabazi implicated for having flouted procurement laws in selling the land but the pro-Mbabazi group complained saying the minister did not break any laws since his transaction was an investment and not a procurement transaction," the source said.

Mr Ahabwe was reportedly leading this group.

"He could not agree with all of us yet the message [that the NSSF transaction was a procurement] was clearly recorded from the fund's management," said the source, adding that the pro-Mbabazi camp then demanded verbatim transcripts of what transpired during their investigations.

Although Mr Ahabwe denied the claim yesterday, he told Daily Monitor he proposed that the committee "broadens the scope" of its investigation and "we don't limit ourselves to simply investigating whether the procurement process was in conflict with PPDA Act."

Said the MP: "My view was that we change the terms of reference to say whether or not the law was complied with. I wanted us to look at the NSSF Act, the Registrar of Title Act, and the Nema Act. There were those saying that we cannot go back but I said whose report is it? It is ours."

There are 22 MPs on the committee six of whom are for the opposition and the rest represent the ruling NRM party.

According the source, the pro-Mbabazi group includes Kabula County MP James Kakooza and Rose Munyira (Busia, Woman ).

"They have threatened to write a minority report if Mr Mbabazi is implicated in any way," claimed the source.

Last week, Mr Mbabazi secretly met NRM MPs on the committee to reportedly seek "fairness" even though the meeting has been since seen as an attempt to sway the committee's findings in his favour.

President Museveni on Friday also met the NRM MPs on the Committee whipped by Mr Stephen Tashobya (Kajara), in which the President reportedly supported Mr Mbabazi, saying the NSSF investigation should not be aimed at the Security Minister, but how NSSF handled the controversial deal.

Both meetings have infuriated the civil society leaders and yesterday, the opposition Forum for Democratic Change accused the President of trying to influence the investigation.

Now some MPs on the committee are claiming some of their colleagues have been coached by Mr Mbabazi.

"They are now busy disorganising us," claimed a committee member who preferred anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

"They were told to say he did not sell a wetland and that the PPDA rules were not breached but this is self evident because proper procedures were not followed."

But one NRM lady MP in the Mbabazi camp said: "We tasked (Chandi) Jamwa (NSSF MD) when he testified in camera to state whether Mr Mbabazi at any one time pressurised him to sell his land but he didn't. He gave the powers of the attorney to Mr [Amos] Nzeyi and now how do we as a committee pin him."

Committee Chairman Johnson Malinga downplayed the developments when contacted yesterday. "We are all together and I have seen all my members here. No one has left this place," he said. "The rumours that members have disagreed are just meant to divide my committee."

Unless the disagreements are resolved soon, the lack of consensus in the final report may render the exercise a waste of time.

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