Grace Matsiko & Risdel Kasasira
Kampala
Members of Parliament from the ruling NRM party say they are being coerced by party officials to support Security Minister Amama Mbabazi from possible censure over the Temangalo land deal.
Several MPs who spoke to Saturday Monitor said they had been summoned to the office of NRM Chief Whip Kabakumba Masiko to get an official “party position” on the NSSF debate but that they protested the move, alleging it was tantamount to intimidation.
“I was summoned to her office,” said one of the MPs on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. “Inside there it is like a teacher talking to a student. We are adults not kids to be told what we have to do.”
Another MP said he was literally whisked off to Ms Masiko’s office where the chief whip reportedly demanded to know which camp he belonged to in the on-going parliamentary inquiry.
A bulk of the MPs appeared before Ms Masiko in her office on Parliament building in the last one week.
“Parliament must have rules,” said another MP, who showed a reporter a text message asking him to “go to Hon. Kabakumba for a discussion on NSSF”. The MP did not however disclose the identity of the origin of the message for fear of disclosing the sender.
Said this MP: “We should not be bullied because we are members of a party, which must submit to the rules.” But Ms Masiko, who also is the Bujenje MP, denied summoning the MPs, saying the allegations were laughable.
“By the nature of my work I interact with these MPs on a daily basis – [even] before this [Mbabazi-NSSF] saga,” Ms Masiko said. “But I have not called anybody for that. The problem is people are anxious when I call them they think am going to ask them about this issue but my role goes beyond that; the other reason is I interact with them because I have to inform the Prime Minister (as is the standard practice).”
According to the MPS Saturday Monitor spoke to, apart from the more outspoken ones, Ms Masiko has been summoning less known MPs or those whose position on the ongoing debate is not known for a so-called chat. Others allege that during these conversations, lawmakers are asked to show “solidarity on the floor” of Parliament in the event that the Mbabazi-NSSF issue comes up.
Some the summoned MPs are members of Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, State Enterprises and Statutory Authorities, which is investigating the NSSF over its purchase of more than 400 acres of land at Temangalo in Wakiso District from Mr Mbabazi and his business partner Amos Nzeyi. At least Shs11b was paid for the land.
NRM publicist Mary Okurut, also the Bushenyi woman MP, said: “If an MP was called to Hon. Masiko’s office, it is absolutely okay because she is our chief whip. I don’t know why members should be worried. The one-on-one meeting is okay. It is accepted internationally but the party’s position [on the NSSF matter], let us wait for the parliamentary committee’s report.”
Last week, seven MPs petitioned President Yoweri Museveni over allegations that security operatives were working behind the scenes to harass or intimidate actors in the saga because of the positions they have taken in the land investigation and the on-going debate.
The seven MPs accuse Mr Mbabazi, the man at the centre of the investigation, of ordering security and intelligence agencies under his control as security minister to harass them.
They also want Mr Museveni, to take action against Ms Masiko, whom the petitioners accuse of taking sides and intimidating members who have spoken out on NSSF Temangalo land deal.
The members who signed the statement include Amooti Otada (Kibanda), Henry Banyenzaki (Rubanda) Margaret Muhanga (Kabarole woman) Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East), Sanjay Tanna (Ind, Tororo), Theodore Ssekikubo ( Lwemiyaga). The seventh MP, Dr Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkizi East), whose name also appears on the statement did not sign but is said to be in support of the petition.
The alleged intimidation has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, who has directed Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to provide security to the threatened legislators.
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