UK, US snub ad hoc oil probe committee

The United States Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Jerry Lanier, and the UK High Commissioner, Mr Martin Shearman, have snubbed calls to appear before the parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the oil sector, the Daily Monitor has learnt.

In a letter copied to committee chairperson Michael Werikhe, the US Embassy cited diplomatic immunity, saying they cannot be summoned to appear before any investigating committee. The letter also advises the committee to use the correct diplomatic channels, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, according to a source that preferred anonymity because he is not supposed to talk on behalf of the committee, the MPs had requested the Office of the Speaker to communicate with the US Embassy, asking it to give audience to the investigating MPs to enable it carry out its work in the ongoing oil bribe probe.

“For us we were ready to meet the embassy team anywhere they would have chosen,” said the source. “We want them to connect us to their relevant departments back home so that we work with them in investigating what we are interested in.”

The source said although Mr Shearman had agreed to interface with the committee yesterday, he abruptly called off the meeting without giving any reason. “He had agreed to appear before us today [Monday] but he just called us, saying on second thought he cannot appear before the committee and that he will write an official letter to that effect,” the source said. “It seems these guys communicated with the US Embassy and they all agreed not to appear, but they are frustrating us.”

In October, MPs mentioned Mr Lanier’s reports in Wikileaks, an online whistle-blower, where he accused Premier Amama Mbabazi and Internal Affairs minister Hilary Onek as having received bribes from oil companies. While appearing before the ad hoc committee, Mr Mbabazi told the committee to summon the US ambassador to substantiate allegations captured by Wikileaks.

Further still, the lead petitioners mentioned the Bank of Mellon in the US, the Scotland Yard in the UK, and EFG Private Bank Ltd, in London in their claims that PM Mbabazi, and ministers Hilary Onek (Internal Affairs) and Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) received money from the oil companies. The US Embassy and the UK High Commission could not be reached for comments as their respect communications personnel were out of office by press time.

iimaka@ug.nationmedia.com