Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has indefinitely suspended parliamentary sittings until what she called “the stupid Kavuma Court Order” by Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Steven Kavuma is reversed.
Kavuma yesterday issued an order against probing, debating by parliament or any person into the Shs 6 billion bonus paid to 42 government officials after winning $700 million in two separate court cases against oil companies that attempted to avoid paying taxes for transactions involving Uganda’s oil wells.
“Go to court, get this stupid order vacated,” Speaker Kadaga told Deputy Attorney General, Mwesigwa Rukutana.
She continued: “We are facing an unprecedented situation where the doctrine of powers is being tested and I cannot accept a situation where the court dictates how we operate and determine the order paper.”
Legislators had prior debated on whether the office of the AG was rightly served and therefore whether or not to proceed with the debate on the Shs6 Billion cash bonanza.
Former leader of opposition, Ogenga Latigo had asked the House to proceed with the discussion on the matter but Mr Rukutana had argued that Parliament should not discuss the matter ‘in light of the Court order’.
Mr Latigo said the Executive owes Parliament an apology ‘for trying to encourage this mischief of the court order’.
Ms Kadaga who the House into wild cheers emphasised that: “There is no way government will secure money from the petroleum fund without talking about this matter. I will adjourn the committees and plenary of this House sine die until the court order is vacated.”
Some of the officials reported to have received part of the Shs6 billion include Ms Doris Akol, the URA Commissioner General, her predecessor Allen Kagina, KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi, Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi, former Attorney General Peter Nyombi and his then deputy Fred Ruhindi.
Others are former Ministry of finance Permanent Secretary Chris Kassami (RIP), Solicitor General Francis Atoke and his deputy Christopher Gashirabake.
