A team of officials from the Uganda revenue authority led by Doris Akol the commissioner General and lawyer Ali Sewakatawa are appearing before the committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) chaired by Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu to explain their role in the awarding of 6 billion shillings presidential handshake.
The officials were also asked to justify payment of the infamous heritage oil arbitration case award to 42 government officials.
Doris Akol however surprised the legislators, when she claimed it was not her person that solicited the infamous handshake but the then Attorney General Fred Ruhindi. According to Akol, Ruhindi wrote to the president after receiving the court awards reminding the president of his past promise that he would reward the team if they win the arbitration case.,
It was upon this basis that the president met the group and later approved the 6bn handshake.
However when asked to read the names of people included in the attorney general’s letter to the president for the reward, Akol read only 24 leaving others out.
During today’s hot meeting, the URA officials could not explain how others were added on the list including former URA commissioner Allen Kagina and KCCA ED Jeniffer Musisi.
Lawyer Sekatawa failed to even explain a meeting in which more government officials were added on the infamous awards list claiming he could not even remember who chaired the said meeting at the Attorney General’s chambers.
Since the officials blamed every wrong doing on the Attorney General, the chairman decided that on the next sitting, they will question individuals, before the groups from URA and office of the Attorney General are brought in together.
The meeting was adjourned to Monday considering tomorrow is a public holiday and Friday has Juma prayers.
Mps on COSASE are investigating circumstances underwhich 42 government officials received 6bn shillings after winning the Heritage oil arbitration case in London.
Government won a case against Heritage oil and was awarded $434m.
