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I didn’t sell wetland, Mbabazi says
BY ELIZABETH AGIRO
Members of Parliament probing the National Social Security Fund’s (NSSF) purchase of 463 acres of land from businessman Amos Nzeyi and security minister Amama Mbabazi first pointed out that a huge chunk of the land in Temangalo was a wetland.
Mbabazi, however, denied the claims saying only the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) could demarcate it a wetland and it had not done so. Inspection by the environment body, however, unearthed that 116 acres of the 463 acres are covered by a seasonal wetland. Apparently, Geomaps director John Musungu had advised NSSF against the deal, but the latter insisted that they needed the wetland as a green belt. The report on the findings states that the land is dominated by water lilies, typha and other species.
Mbabazi, however, rejected the report, arguing that all the conditions NEMA describes on the land were a result of the activities on the farm. He said if at all it was a wetland, then it was a man-made one.
Also in the hot seat over land issues is former health minister and Rujumbura MP Jim Muhwezi who sold 84 acres at sh28m each to Akright Housing Project in 2006. Appearing before the probe committee into the NSSF/Mbabazi saga, Muhwezi said Mbabazi should not use his (Muhwezi’s) land as a reference point because unlike the land in Temangalo, his is on a hill with no squatters or wetland on it. Plus, he says it is 9km from the Kampala Post Office, while Mbabazi’s is more than 17km from the same point. But a report shows otherwise.
On cue is a Transparency International report, a corruption watchdog, which states that Uganda has dropped from 111 to 126 out of 180 countries on the corruption ranking. Out of 10, Uganda scored 2.6, a 0.2 drop from 2.8 previously, putting the country at par with Eritrea, Mozambique and Ethiopia. In East Africa, although behind Rwanda, Uganda performed better than Kenya and Tanzania which stand at 147 and 158 respectively. Ethics and integrity minister Nsaba Buturo, however, rubbished the ranking, saying it’s based on public perception, not scientifically proven data.
It is because of the lack of access to clear, balanced and objective information on science, technology and innovation that Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi said MPs often fail to check governments. He said they always rely on press reports or lobby groups for information, which is not always accurate and objective.
Meanwhile, the former secretary general of the East African Community, Amanya Mushega, has asked Parliament to reinstate the presidential term limits, arguing that this will promote peaceful handover of power and development. He said the removal of term limits should be something to be sad about and that term limits should be a must since the president’s stay in office is paid for by someone else.
In South Africa, the ruling party, ANC, has named its deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, to take over from Thabo Mbeki who resigned prematurely after it emerged that he used political influence in the corruption charges against former vice-president Jacob Zuma. Almost one third of the cabinet stepped down out of loyalty to Mbeki, who ruled for nine years.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
If children are guilty of an offence in a family, they opt to report each other to the parent for favours. The same is happening in the NRM government. Former ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe likening the feuding cabinet ministers in the Mbabazi-NSSF land saga to co-wives fighting for favours from their husband (President Yoweri Museveni).
THE WEEK AHEAD
Expect a public holiday as the Muslim season of fasting, known as Ramadan, comes to an end. The NSSF probe continues.
Published on: Saturday, 27th September, 2008
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