Members of Parliament from Buganda have threatened to mobilize people on to the streets if government does not prosecute all the people named in the mismanagement of the CHOGM funds.
The MPs under their Buganda Parliamentary Caucus are now visiting former vice president Gilbert Bukenya, who was on Monday remanded to Luzira Prisons.
Bukenya is facing two separate charges of abuse of office and fraudulent practice.
In the second count, the former VP is accused jointly with Motor Care Uganda Limited, a company he allegedly helped secure a tender to supply 80 BMW vehicles and 1200 Police outrider motor cycles for use during CHOGM.
On Monday, the Anti Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate, Irene Akankwasa cancelled Bukenya’s bail and committed him to the high court for trial.
The Buganda legislators met on Tuesday morning to discuss what they called selective prosecution by government and the inspector general of government, vowing to support Bukenya whom they called a fellow member of the caucus.
In the heated two-hour meeting, the MPs went tribal and accused President Yoweri Museveni and his government of prosecuting Bukenya because he is a Muganda. Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo argued that several government officials including Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, labour state minister Mwesigwa Rukutana and Chief Whip John Nasasira were named in the same scandal as Bukenya. The MP however noted that the former VP is the only person prosecuted.
He also names former ministers Hope Mwesigye and Serapio Rukundo as some of the people who were named in the scandal but are still free. Ssekikubo says under the government policy, all cabinet decisions are taken collectively and he questions the rationality of picking out one person for prosecution.
Ssekikubo warned that President Museveni looks set to go down the same path as Bukenya.
Ann Nankabirwa, the Butambala woman MP called for the IGG’s office to be investigated for corruption, arguing that the ombudsman is applying the law selectively. MPs Hussein Kyanjo, Godfrey Kiwanda, Mariam Nalubega and Lulume Bayiga welcomed Bukenya’s prosecution but they want all those implicated in the same scandal to also be brought to book.
The poorly-attended meeting was chaired by Kawempe North MP, Latif Ssebagala. A URN reporter counted at least 20 legislators in attendance, even though the caucus is the biggest in the 9th parliament with over 80 members.
The MPs later resolved to among others help Bukenya’s family, write to President Museveni to protest selective prosecution, and go to Luzira to visit the Busiro North MP.
