Emmanuel Gyezaho and Mercy Nalugo
4 November 2008
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday asked the National Resistance Movement Parliamentary Caucus not to censure Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and his Finance Counterpart Dr Ezra Suruma following their involvement in the National Social Security Fund purchase of more than 400 acres of land at Temangalo, Wakiso at Shs11 billion.
Mr Museveni was forced to reverse his earlier position that his two ministers had no case to answer after his wife, Ms Janet Museveni also MP for Ruhaama, said Mr Mbabazi should either resign or refund the money to save the face of the party and his personal reputation, sources that attended the meeting told Daily Monitor.
The stormy session was at State House in Entebbe.
Mr Museveni had insisted that the Temangalo issue should be solved without hurting the party but after his wife Janet opposed him, the President is reported to have retreated and said Mr Mbabazi and Mr Suruma should apologise and be let off hook.
The meeting that started shortly before mid-day was going on by press time. The position of the NRM Caucus is expected to lead the parliamentary debate on the matter, whose Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises has been investigating the transaction since August.
After a two-month investigation, the committee split with the main report writers saying that both ministers were culpable in their involvement in the Shs11 billion deal but a minority report, written by six MPs - all from NRM - on the 20-person committee, absolves Mr Mbabazi and Dr Suruma of any wrong-doing.
Mr Museveni had earlier on Friday pushed Cabinet to absolve Mr Mbabazi, a key ally, of any wrong-doing. But yesterday's NRM Caucus position will have overshadowed the Cabinet position, leaving both Mr Mbabazi and Dr Suruma's political careers hanging.
Parliament begins debating the two contrasting reports on the controversial land transaction today.
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