Kampala — As it emerged over the weekend that President Yoweri Museveni had swayed his Cabinet to spare, from censure, the embattled Security Minister Amama Mbabazi, the Opposition also made a last ditch plea to MPs to salvage their image and act in the interest of the country when debating the National Social Security Fund-Temangalo report.

Under their umbrella Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), the Opposition parties including Uganda Peoples Congress, Forum for Democratic Change, Jeema and the Conservative Party, said in a statement that there had been irregularities in the handling of the investigations into the Shs11 billion Temangalo land controversy.

"Government had shown that it had a vested interest in covering up wrongdoing instead of being concerned about the savings of the workers, " the statement released yesterday said, adding that "The Speaker of Parliament Hon Edward Sekandi was openly unduly sympathetic to the six dissenting committee members. This and similar incidents threatens to erode the integrity of Parliament."

The statement issued after their 6th summit meeting, October 30, also revealed that Opposition chiefs were unhappy that those being investigated namely; Mr Mbabazi, Finance Minister Ezra Suruma, and the NSSF Board and Management had shown their insensitivity about the plight of the workers and no remorse for their wrongdoing.

The Opposition summit, therefore; called upon the public especially the workers to be vigilant and bring pressure to bear on the actors "so as to stem the tide of impunity that has characterised the NRM government."

They also asked the public and particularly members of CP, FDC, Jeema and UPC to take keen interest in the parliamentary debate that will ensue most likely beginning next week and spare some time to watch the proceedings from the public gallery in the House. "[The summit] calls upon the law enforcement agencies such as the Police, the DPP, the IGG to take proactive interest in this case with a view to bringing the culprits to book," reads the statement.

Other issues discussed at the summit included the controversial election of the new Busoga Kyabazinga Edward Columbus Wambuzi. The Opposition politicians said there were disturbing reports indicating that government arm-twisted and threatened the players in that election with the aim of putting in place a Kyabazinga who will be more or less like a Resident District Commissioner.

"The summit calls upon government to desist from derailing the aspirations of the people of Busoga and not to erode the trust and confidence which the people of Busoga had in their valued cultural institution," the statement reads.

On the recent stopping of Buganda's Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from visiting Nakasongola District, the summit said it was by no means an isolated incident, but the most serious provocation in a series of actions that have been perpetrated to humiliate Buganda and its leaders. "The Summit calls upon the people of Buganda to open their eyes and understand the true colours of NRM which is driving the country into eventual chaos. "Calls upon the government to desist from provocations that may push society into violence

"Resolves that IPC starts publishing on a regular basis a list of rights abuses in Uganda."

Other issues they discussed included constitutional and electoral reforms; and national delegates' conferences for the disparate scheduled for different dates between November 15 and December and the Kyadondo North by-election in which they resolved to field one candidate. The summit appointed Mr Siragi Balinda of Jeema as IPC official spokesperson.