By Emmanuel N. Mugarura
Nov 15, 2003 - Monitor
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KAMPALA - The Democratic Party lawyer, Mr Elias Lukwago, has said he is studying the Leadership Code to establish why the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Ssekandi cannot publicly declare the Inspector General of Government, Mr Jotham Tumwesigye's wealth. If he establishes any inconsistencies, he will petition the Constitutional Court on the matter.The press had applied to the Speaker to have the IGG's declarations made public. But Ssekandi said that there's no law that compels him to declare Tumwesigye's assets and liabilities. "We are carefully studying the law on declarations with a view of going to court; we need to know what it says about declarations," Lukwago said in a telephone interview with The Monitor yesterday."The law should be put clear on who declares publicly and who does not." "He can go ahead and sue; there are competent courts to interpret the law. will not be scared," Ssekandi said yesterday. Earlier on Thursday, Ssekandi had told The monitor that the IGG can make a personal declaration if he wished, saying there's no law barring him. His only concern was that the law does not compel the IGG nor the Speaker to publicly declare their assets. "I have consulted the Solicitor General and he told me there is no law to that effect, you can lobby to have the law and you will have the declarations," he said. Meanwhile, ministers whose declarations were made public were not happy with the move. The minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Syda Bbumba said that while she respects the law, she thinks it was not right to avail their declarations to the public. "We have many enemies who are always looking for us. This can add to our risks," said Bbumba. Bbumba said that it would have been better if only the faulty declarations were the ones made public. "Why publicise those declarations that are not questioned?" Bbumba who is also MP for Nakaseke said. However, Tumwesigye dispelled talks that the declarations were meant to haunt anyone. He said people ought to understand his work and statutory responsibilities. "It is not personal; the law and the Constitution give the IGG powers to investigate and take action, why should some people take it personal?" he said. He also said that he is willing to go public about his assets and liabilities. "My declaration is with the Speaker of Parliament and it's his discretion to make it public," Tumwesigye told The Monitor on Thursday. |
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
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