Chaotic scenes greeted the beginning of the long awaited debate of the NSSF-Temangalo report during Tuesday's sitting of Parliament.

But there was every indication that Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and Finance Minister Ezra Suruma would be absolved of the alleged misdeeds in the Shs11 billion deal, as the voices in their support grew remarkably.

It was evident that Monday's 12-hour meeting of the NRM Caucus at State House Entebbe under the auspices of President Museveni had managed to earn the embattled ministers' much needed respite, and valuable rally support from MPs of the ruling party.

Key party figures, who for the past 11 weeks have led the battle to bring down the two ministers for their role in the dubious transaction, were conspicuously absent.

There was no sign of Rujumbura MP Jim Muhwezi, Henry Banyenzaki (Rubanda West), Tanna Sanjay (Tororo), Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) and Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkizi East)-who was only seen in the House corridors.

NRM MPs showed no apparent expression of emotion as Kapelebyong MP Johnson Mallinga read the majority report of the committee on Commissions and State Enterprises which had indicted the two men for peddling influence, conflict of interest and general misconduct, and recommended that they either resign or be sacked.

But when Kajara MP Steven Tashobya read the minority report which exonerates the two ministers, the ruling party MPs variously cheered and showed just why it is important to caucus and lobby in politics.

It was clear that the MPs had carried a predetermined position, to save the careers of one of their own by disagreeing with the conclusions of the majority report, and adopting the minority report.

The 20-member committee that investigated the matter concluded with 14 members signing the main report while six dissented.

The NRM boasts majority seats in the House and have the numbers to push any legislation. Of the 333 MPs in the Eighth Parliament, 214 are NRM.

Oyam North MP Ben Wacha sparked off the stormy debate and questioned a conclusion by the minority report that some evidence had been tampered with before the committee completed its investigation.

He wondered why a letter presented by the clerk to the committee explaining missing evidence had been ignored by the minority report as if to suggest an ulterior motive on the clerk's part.

"We cannot stand here to talk about someone's work when that person does not sit here to defend herself on this floor," said Mr Wacha before asking Mr Tashobya to withdraw the allegation or produce evidence to back the minority report claims.

The minority report had claimed vital evidence submitted by NSSF chief Chandi Jamwa had gone missing, in dissenting to the majority report.

"It offends our rules to impute bad faith on the committee membership and we cannot stand here to be accused," said MP Abdu Katuntu. "Tampering with the record of Parliament is criminal, and we need this matter investigated."

Mr Ssekandi, who initially proposed that the MPs "ignore" the controversy over the evidence, because "I don't see any member accused," backed to pressure from the opposition and ruled that the matter be investigated.

Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi then attempted to present a statement for what he said was the government's position on the parliamentary investigation even before official debate on the reports had commenced.

He was quickly halted by Chua MP Livingstone Okello Okello who complained about the procedural mishap. Mr Ssekandi ordered Prof. Nsibambi not to read his statement but simply contribute to the debate.

The Premier said the government had come up with a policy for the pension sector and revealed that "NSSF will soon be supervised by an independent regulator so that the government will have a limited role to play." He, however, supported all the conclusions of the minority report.

General Duties Minister Adolf Mwesige also put up a spirited defence for the NSSF land deal, telling MPs that the fund got a good deal.

"Can you peddle influence to sell your land at a price below market price?" asked Mr Mwesige in reference to claims that other vendors had sold similar land pieces in Wakiso at prices far above the Shs 24million NSSF sealed its deal.