[Ugnet] MPs' Bribery Scandal Polarises Parliament

THE SCANDAL of legislators being "bribed" to support a third term for President Yoweri Museveni has thrown parliament off balance, putting not only Speaker Edward Ssekandi's job in jeopardy but also putting on hold a number of important political legislations.

Several opposition Members of Parliament, part of the 81 who did not receive the Ush5 million ($3,000) each given to their colleagues to support the amendment of the constitution to allow President Museveni to stand in 2006, said they were ready to pass a motion of censure against Mr Ssekandi this week.

They are alleging that he compromised himself by receiving money meant for partisan politicians, contrary to rules that demand he stays neutral.

The scandal, in which 223 legislators are said to have lined up at a hotel in Kampala to receive $3,000 each to "mobilise support" for laws allowing President Museveni to run for an unconstitutional third term, has paralysed parliamentary business. President Museveni has already served his two terms in office.

Incensed by what they see as the Speaker taking sides with the ruling Movement, the opposition legislators say there can be no debate in parliament unless, "The House has been cleaned."

Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi was last week preparing a motion to have the Speaker censured. He accused him of receiving what is now being termed ekisanja money and losing his impartiality in the House when the petition against recipients of the money came up.

Michael Mabikke, another opposition legislator who is supporting the bid to censure the Speaker, said in the House last week that opposition legislators were no longer sure of the Speaker's position as he had already been paid off.

"This is a very difficult moment, I find it difficult to understand what is happening when we talk about a White Paper to amend 60 per cent of the constitution," said another opposition MP, Cecilia Ogwal.

The National Resistance Movement Organisation, whose chairman is President Museveni, insists that the money was not a bribe.

They defended the Speaker against accusations that he compromised himself. The NRM-O remains adamant about the source of the money at a time when the heat is being turned on it by the public, donors and the opposition.

Sources said that the money came from the Consolidated Fund, since the payment vouchers contained Bank of Uganda insignia. Admitting this to the public would be problematic as it was preceded by an attempt to place the National Social Security Fund under the Ministry of Finance.

Whatever action the opposition brings against the Speaker, it will have to contend with the fact that the Movement commands an overwhelming majority and so can easily outvote the petitioners.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Information Dr Nsaba Buturo told The EastAfrican that all that matters in parliament now are numbers.

"We already have the numbers required and we shall win every debate that will come to the House. I already have over 223 Members, which is above the required one-third to pass a Bill," said Charles Bakabulindi, chairman of the Movement's parliamentary Caucus.

However, whatever the outcome of the censure motion, the scandal has dented the image of the Seventh Parliament. Already, the polarisation in the House has been marked by the physical confrontation between the MP for Pader, Odongo Otto, and State Defence Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa.

Mr Lukyamuzi said, "The transition deliberations are going to be very tough."

Whether the petition to censure the Speaker will be killed at the first stage of presentation will be known next week.

Ben Wacha, chairman of the Rules and Procedure Committee, said that any petition can be killed as rule 22(4) of parliamentary rules and procedures, gives any legislature powers to do so on the basis that the petition being incompetent, lacking evidence or being malicious.

[Ugnet] MPs' Bribery Scandal Polarises Parliament

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