Kampala — THE Cabinet yesterday held a special meeting in which it was briefed about progress on the Land Amendment Bill and the probe into the 2007 Commonwealth summit expenditure.

"We were updating ourselves on the progress of those issues," national guidance minister Kabakumba Masiko said.

She added that Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi briefed them about the progress of the Land Bill, which is before Parliament and is expected to enter the final stage next week.

"We needed to harmonise our position and remind members that the Bill is good and should be supported," a source said.

The Bill seeks to protect lawful occupants on registered land from being evicted without a court order.

The Government chief whip, Daudi Migereko, briefed the Cabinet about the ongoing Public Accounts Committee probe into the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting expenditure.

Asked whether the ministers were worried that the probe was reflecting poorly on the Government, Masiko said: "The Government ordered the special audit. There is no bad light to the Government, the problem is speculation.

If we did not want anything, we would not have ordered the probe," she said.

"We decided that investigations should continue," a source said.

Members, the source added, were instructed on what to tell the press and the information minister asked to screen the information.

After the Cabinet meeting, President Yoweri Museveni left for Arusha, Tanzania to attend the 11th heads of state summit of the East African Community (EAC).

The meeting marks the 10th anniversary of the EAC revival. The leaders will also launch the customs union, which is expected to culminate in the formation of a monetary union and a political federation.