The Local government minister, Kahinda Otafiire, has bowed out of the controversial Nakasero market deal.
According to, Charles Ekemu, the acting Local Government committee chairman, Otaffire told the committee that he has written to President Yoweri Museveni asking him to handle the matter.
The Committee has been investigating reports that Otafiire influenced the sublease of land currently housing Nakasero market to Kampala businessman, Hassan Basajabalaba.
Last month, the Acting Commissioner of Lands, Edward Karibwende, told Parliament that he received instructions from Otafiire to transfer the sublease of Nakasero market land to Basajabalaba's Sheila Investments.
Appearing before the committee, Otafiire requested that he gives his defence in camera and later declined to talk to the media.
But the acting committee Chairperson, Charles Ekemu, told journalists that Otafiire denied having directed the Acting Commissioner of Lands to transfer the sublease transferred. Otafiire said he only requested the Commissioner to have the sublease transferred and that he should have declined the request if he deemed it unjust.
But the Committee members insist that Otafiire has a case to answer. They have upheld an earlier report that called for disciplinary action against the Minister for his involvement in the controversies over Nakasero market.
//Cue in: iHe has tried his best#
Cue out:#influence peddling.i //
Early this month, the Local Government Committee tabled a report in Parliament in which they asked the President to take appropriate disciplinary action against Otafiire for influencing KCC to dispose off the market, despite the President's directive not to do so.
The report also called for the interdiction of the acting Town Clerk, Ruth Kijjambu and the Lands Commissioner, Edward Karibwende.
