Kadaga slams Cabinet on Murchison Falls giveaway

Tour. Tourists on a boat cruise at Murchison Falls Natioanl Park on December 3. PHOTO BY EDGAR BATTE

What you need to know:

  • Concern. The Speaker, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, says for the minister to communicate a Cabinet decision without going through Parliament is undermining the mandate of the House.

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has asked Cabinet to “stop running government’ from the Uganda Media Centre.

Ms Kadaga was yesterday speaking about the proposed giveaway of the Murchison Falls National Park for construction of a power dam, a move she said was provocative.

“Can we know why the government is provoking the people of Uganda in Murchison Falls?” Ms Kadaga charged.
“I think I should ask in Lusoga, muli kiki (What are you up to)? What is the government doing?” she asked.
The Speaker accused Cabinet of doing things behind the back of Parliament.

“The country needs to know, you cannot run government at the [Uganda] Media Centre. With whom are you talking to at the media centre?” Ms Kadaga asked.
At the receiving end, was Mr David Bahati, the Minister of State for Planning who defended the government position.

Mr Bahati explained that the Murchison Falls matter was under study and that Ms Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, had only made a presentation to Cabinet, but no decision has been taken yet.

Mr Bahati told the Speaker yesterday that the public had been informed by the line minister, Ms Muloni.
Ms Muloni said Cabinet had sanctioned a feasibility study to establish whether construction of a power dam at Murchison Falls would have adverse effects on Murchison Falls National Park and its ecosystem.

“The Minister for Energy made a statement about two weeks ago to the country and said the issue regarding Murchison Falls, we are still making some studies. There is no concrete decision from Cabinet,” Mr Bahati said.
Ms Kadaga then referred the minister to the Constitution regarding protection of natural resources.

“You are holding these resources on behalf of the people of Uganda and the people have said they don’t want you to give away the falls, so what are you studying?” Ms Kadaga said.

She dismissed the submission that Ms Muloni had addressed the matter of Murchison Falls when she addressed the country at the Uganda Media Centre.
“So she made a statement to Cabinet and then to the country? Did she come to this House?” Ms Kadaga asked.

Mr Bahati responded: “She has not reported to this House, she only made a statement at the Uganda Media Centre.”
“So her reporting place is the Media Centre and not the representatives of the people who are seated here?” Ms Kadaga asked.

She said it is illogical for the government to risk the country’s natural endowment to suspicious projects.
The Speaker summoned the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, and Ms Muloni to immediately report to Parliament to explain the Murchison Falls controversy.
However, the duo were absent and did not show up for the rest of the day’s sitting.

Cabinet communication

Last week, Ms Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy, told the press at the Uganda Media Centre that Cabinet had approved a bid to conduct a feasibility study to determine the justification of constructing a hydro-power dam at Uhuru Falls in Murchison Falls National Park on the River Nile.
She said the government had signed a memorandum of understanding with South Africa’s Bonang Energy and Power Limited to undertake a detailed feasibility study.