The Forum for Democratic Change has declared “a fresh war” against the ruling National Resistance Movement, following the controversial decision by Parliament last week to exonerate four ministers of blame in the Chogm scandal. “It’s going to be a protracted war, a peaceful war, and it (the Chogm scandal) is going to be one of the issues which we are going to use for sensitising the public,” said FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu in Kampala yesterday.
Charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss have dogged Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya and senior ministers Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs), John Nasasira (Works) and Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya since the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting nearly four years ago.
Despite the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee findings that the ministers were involved in the misuse of at least Shs500 billion, NRM legislators unanimously absolved them.
FDC MPs walked out in protest following the announcement by Speaker Edward Ssekandi on Thursday, a move Mr Oguttu says was okay.
“NRM uses its majority in Parliament to get away with murder,” he said. “They are murderers because they steal drugs from sick people who die… they will steal government money for building roads and leave potholes on roads and many accidents occur.”
Chogm report delayed?
Mr Oguttu also said the Chogm report was delayed until after the February elections because the government feared it would cost them votes, an allegation dismissed by NRM spokesperson Ofwono Opondo as “absolute rubbish”. “The politicians named in Chogm, are not responsible for fundraising for the party. If they took any money, they must have taken it as private individuals,” Mr Opondo said.
State House spokesperson Tamale Mirundi was quick to distance Mr Museveni from Parliament’s decision. He said by setting up the probe and entrusting independent institutions with the outcome, Mr Museveni acted within his presidential powers.
“The President works through institutions. There is nobody who has been arrested over corruption, taken to court then the case is dropped because of the President’s intervention,” Mr Mirundi said. “The beauty of prosecuting lies in the DPP (Directorate of Public Prosecutions) – the beauty of investigating crimes lies in the CID (Criminal Investigations Department)”.
Mr Robert Lugolobi, the executive director of Transparency International, called Parliament’s decision “a disappointment” and questioned the will of institutions to prosecute. “There is always the fear of interfering,” he said. The Chogm report will be tabled before Parliament today.
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