Deputy Speaker Tayebwa names 7-member committee to summon Minister Namuganza
Thomas Tayebwa the Deputy Speaker of Parliament has named a seven-member committee that will summon Persis Namuganza, the State Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development.
The committee is comprised of; Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama, the Mbarara City South Representative (Chairperson), Wilfred Niwagaba, Ndorwa East Member of Parliament, Mpindi Bumali, Disability Representative and Charles Bakabulindi, Workers’ Representative.
The other members are Nancy Acora, the Lamwo District Woman Representative, Betty Ethel Naluyima, the Wakiso District Woman Representative, and Tororo North County Member of Parliament, Geoffrey Ekanya.The debate follows a motion that was tabled On December 23, 2022, by John Amos Okot, the Agago North Member of Parliament seeking a resolution of Parliament to censure Namuganza for contempt of parliament after 200 MPs signed the petition.
Tayebwa’s communication was a surprise to MPs because the issue was not on the day’s order paper. Earlier on Wednesday, Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesigye, who, on Monday recalled the House from recess to constitute the Committee amended the order paper to exclude the item.
However, Tayebwa gave the committee, an ultimatum of 15 days within which to accord Namuganza an opportunity to be heard and make a report to the House by January 23.
Namuganza is being accused of contempt of Parliament and gross misconduct following her questionable role in the Nakawa-Naguru land giveaway to some investors, a process reportedly aided by a falsified presidential directive.
The lawmakers also accuse Namuganza of making slanderous remarks against an ad-hoc committee of Parliament set to probe her involvement in the controversial giveaway of the land in question. Notably, the forged Presidential directive misguided Uganda Land Commission – ULC to sanction the land giveaway.
Namuganza has since denied any wrongdoing but rather blamed Speaker Anita Among for escalating a ‘personal fight’ in a balance of power showdown aimed at relieving her of Ministerial appointment.
