Kadaga ruminating over calls to investigate Kutesa

Kampala.

Parliament will now look into a request to investigate Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa, who the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigations accuses of taking a $500, 000 (Shs1.8 billion) from a Chinese businessman.

This follows a petition by four concerned citizens.

The four – David Bala, Henry Byansi, Simon Peter Esomu and Martin Twomo – want Parliament to investigate the FBI’s charges against Mr Kutesa.

Additionally, they want Parliament to consider impeaching him.

They said he conducted himself in contrary to values and aspirations of Ugandans and the Leadership Code.

On Friday, after she received the petition, Ms Kadaga said she would look into it and get back to them with in a fortnight.

“Since you have come, as citizens, to ask about the same issue, let me take up the queries again and see what is happening and see how we can decide how to move,” Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said.

When in December  the Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga first brought the matter to the attention of the House last year and asked that Parliament look into it, Ms Kadaga, said it was too early to look into it.

 “It is premature, at this stage, for Parliament to delve into an investigation. We do not know whether he [Kutesa] is going to be a witness or something else,” Ms Kadaga said on Thursday, December 14 at Parliament.

“Let us wait for the outcome of the proceedings in New York.”

Then, Lwemiyaga MP, Theodore Ssekikubo, said since Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority failed to follow up the matter, Parliament should.

In response, Ms Kadaga said, “I am glad you [Ssekikubo] have said the Financial Intelligence Authority is here [in Uganda]. As a concerned citizen, lodge a complaint with the information you have.”