Ministers and members of parliament involved in debates over allegations of bribery by oil companies today took the airwaves across the country to plead their cases to the public.
In Kampala, the two MPs who led the charge in parliament, Gerald Karuhanga (Youth Western) and Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri) joined the Capital Gang on Capital Radio. The debate features Kyadondo north MP, Ibrahim Ssemuju Nganda and NRM deputy spokesman, Ofwono Opondo.
On KFM's Saturday talkshow, Hard Talk, Mawogola MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa was co-panalist with Kitgum woman MP, Beatrice Anywar.
Meanwhile Nwoya County MP, Richard Todwong, says that claims that some government ministers took bribes are true.
Todwong explained that as a presidential advisor, he submitted reports including issues about the oil especially the one in Amuru district to the president. He said he also met and spoke to many parties involved in the oil exploration process. Although he declined to name who exactly he was sure received the alleged bribe, Todwong maintained he was sure the officials would be exposed.
Todwong, a former journalist worked as presidential advisor in charge of northern Uganda until he was elected to parliament in February 2011.
The legislator was on Saturday morning speaking during a talk show on Radio Rupiny, a government owned station in Gulu. Also hosted on the show through the phone was Hillary Onek, one of the ministers in the bribery allegations.
Onek, the internal affairs minister maintained his innocence saying he was being implicated falsely using forged documents. He said the only foreign bank account he ever owned is the one he opened while a student in UK where his cash balance is 150 pounds.
Both Onek and Todwong maintained their stance with the latter insisting that some of the officials took bribes.
Todwong’s claim contradicts President Yoweri Museveni’s comments early this week, when he maintained that the ministers were innocent. The president said he was aware the claims about the oil bribes were false. He said an investigation that he commissioned into the allegations that some oil companies had bribed government ministers Hillary Onek, Sam Kutesa and Amama Mbabazi proved that the officials were innocent.
The debate surrounding oil in Uganda has attracted heated reactions across the country.
James Kilara, a resident of Nwoya County where one of the oil wells is located has said government should be transparent in all the matters relating to the oil because it is a national asset. Kilara said he was not happy that there appears to be secrecy in the oil deal, saying he fears that they may not benefit from the discovery as a local community.
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