Just In! Parliament Censures Minister Namuganza Over Misconduct
In a special plenary sitting this afternoon, Parliament has censured the State Minister for lands Persis Namuganza following a motion which was moved Agago North MP John Amos Okot.
This followed recommendations by the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline that found Namuganza to have specifically insulted the leadership of Parliament for instituting an Adhoc committee to investigate her over the Naguru-Nakawa land allocations.
It was alleged that Namuganza also took to social media and television questioning the operations, powers and integrity of the presiding officers of Parliament to form Adhoc committees.
Parliament’s ad hoc committee in their report recommended that Namuganza steps aside for falsifying a presidential directive that saw the Uganda Land Commission allocate chunks of land to a section of investors.
However, Namuganza is reported to have said Parliament is powerless and unable to censure her concerning her involvement in the Naguru-Nakawa land allocations.
Following the recommendations, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa last week named a seven-member committee to investigate allegations of misconduct against Museveni’s blue-eyed girl.
The Select Committee was chaired by Mwine Mpaka. Other members of the committee include Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East), Mpindi Bumali (PWD), Charles Bakkabulindi (Workers), Nancy Acora (Lamwo District), Betty Naluyima (Wakiso District) and Godfrey Ekanya (Tororo North).
While presenting the select committee report, Mpaka said Namuganza failed in her duty to at all times conduct herself in a manner that will maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of Parliament.
“Namuganza did not appear before the select committee for a fair hearing despite several attempts yet she was duly served with letters inviting her to appear before the committee. She ought to have used proper channels of challenging the composition of the Ad hoc Committee that investigated her involvement in the Nakawa-Naguru land allocation,” he said.
The select committee found that her conduct brought Parliament and its members into disrepute and breached the Code of Conduct of Procedure of Parliament.
There were 356 MPs in the house to vote and out of these 348 MPs voted in favour of censuring Namuganza, 5 voted against the motion and 3 MPs abstained.
The Speaker will, in 24 hours and pursuant to Rule 109 of the Rules of Procedure, relay to the President the decision of the House, who will ‘take appropriate action’ as required under article 118(2) of the Constitution.
