Kampala — The parliamentary investigation into the Temangalo land deal reached new lows yesterday when the chairperson of the committee said his members had been offered money and sexual offers to influence their final report.

MP Johnson Malinga also said mean-looking men, suspected to be security operatives, had laid "siege" to the Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe where the MPs retreated last Friday to write a report on their two month investigation.

The MPs on the Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises Committee are investigating allegations of price-inflation, violation of procurement laws, and political influence-peddling in the Shs11b land deal between the National Social Security Fund, businessman Amos Nzeyi and Security Minister Amama Mbabazi.

Yesterday's developments started at Parliament where three members on the committee addressed the press and protested what they called interference and intimidation by security operatives and other MPs into the investigation.

The three MPs: Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Henry Banyenzaki (Rubanda West) and Margaret Muhanga (Kabarole), told journalists that the committee was no longer working freely because of undue influence and threats.

"It is unfortunate that Mbabazi's people have tried to do all it takes to influence the report," Mr Banyenzaki said.

There is no evidence to link Mr Mbabazi to the suspected security officials at the hotel.

However, last Tuesday, Mr Mbabazi met members of the committee who belong to the ruling NRM party, where he also serves as secretary general.

During the nine-hour meeting, which started at 11pm, Mr Mbabazi reportedly asked MPs to ensure that opposition members on the committee do not use the report to damage the NRM.

Days later, NRM MPs on the committee also met President Museveni at State House, Entebbe. Both meetings have been widely condemned as attempts to influence the outcome of the investigation.

Mr Ssekikubo yesterday accused MP Asuman Kiyingi of leading the effort to infiltrate the committee, claims Mr Kiyingi denied. "I was in the hotel for some other businesses which were personal. Let them not drag me into these political debates," he said.

Mr Malinga said yesterday that he'd seen MP Kiyingi at the hotel in Entebbe. He said: "I did see him at an awkward time. He found us seated as a team and called aside some two members who later reported to the whole group what the message was.

"He told the two MPs that because they had been at the hotel for long, they could be in need of money and women which they refused," Mr Malinga said.

Workers' MP Joram Pajobo, who was one of the two MPs Mr Kiyingi spoke to, confirmed the allegations. "Kiyingi was just belittling us. How do you come and tell a whole MP that; 'See I have women for you'?" Luuka MP Meddi Mulumba also confirmed meeting Mr Kiyingi but said Bugabula South MP said he had come to be briefed about the report.

Mr Kiyingi is not a member of the committee and it is not clear what his interest in the proceedings is. He denied the allegations against him when contacted for comment yesterday. Mr Malinga said thee committee will produce an independent report.

Despite Mr Malinga's assurances, revelations of attempts to influence the committee - including a recently leaked draft that pinned Finance Minister Ezra Suruma and the NSSF management - are likely to raise doubts about the credibility of the final report.