NRM Caucus to debate controversial PAC reports

President Museveni has summoned NRM MPs to a meeting to take a position on a report by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC), exposing the controversial cancellation of a mining lease that cost taxpayers Shs43.5 billion.

The impromptu meeting was called ahead of the PAC report debate by the House, which begins today. “Kindly carry your reports on Dura Cement, Jinja-Bugiri Road compensation and the adhoc committee on the electricity sector,” reads the message from chief whip’s office sent to all the MPs.

The report
The report, which was tabled by the Public Accounts Committee vice chairperson, Mr Maxwell Akora, on Thursday, implicates senior government officials, including the President, Nyabushozi MP Fred Mwesigye, who was then head of National Enterprises Corporation (NEC), Justice Billy Kainamura, the former Solicitor General and former Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya among others for their role regarding a decision by the government in 2007 to cancel a mining lease that had been awarded to Dura Cement Ltd. According to the report, President Museveni ordered the termination of the contract and instead asked that it goes to Lafarge/Hima Cement. In the resultant suit for breach of contract by Dura, the government forked out Shs43.5 billion.

MPs divided
By press time yesterday, details of the MPs’ meeting remained scanty but according to sources that attended the meeting and are not authorised to speak on behalf of the caucus, the lawmakers were divided over the matter. The legislators that Daily Monitor talked to before yesterday’s caucus meeting said the caucus will listen to the President and make an informed decision.

Mr Steven Tashobya (Kajara County) said the caucus would take a decisive measure not to exonerate thieves.
Dr Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkizi East) said yesterday that if investigations were carried out and incriminating evidence tabled before Parliament then, “we shall move as Parliament to condemn corruption irrespective of our parties. We must look at corruption without partisan lenses.”

Mr Akora (Maruzi County) said yesterday they came up with the report based on evidence and appended all the necessary documents which indicate the roles played by those implicated. “The report will be open for debate .But each time PAC comes out with a report implicating the corrupt, NRM rushes to caucus to influence the debate,” he said.

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