At the closure of Members of Parliament from the National Resistance Movement party meeting at State House, Entebbe on Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni appealed to them to probe the recent trending story of the presidential handshake of Shs6 billion shared by highly paid top government officials in good faith if need be.
He told the ruling party’s legislators that they are among the many people who are maligning and demonizing the beneficiaries who ought to be thanked for doing a good job to recover over 700million dollars in tax arrears to oil companies Tullow and Heritage.
Museveni reportedly informed them that he okayed the money because they (recipients) had done a ‘great deal’ in defending the case.
He said: “If the support staff were part of the big war that saved Uganda trillions and gained US $451 million, if they get Shs50 million for their first time in life, it is okay. It was their luck that they were part of the war.”
“That [handshake] was in order, I am the one who gave it,” Museveni added.
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.
Later this afternoon, an investigation into the matter is expected to be moved on the floor of Parliament tomorrow by the Mbarara Municipality MP, Michael Tusiime. Peter Ogwang (Usuk MP) is the seconder.
Yes, the matter is definitely going to be discussed extensively. I haven’t seen the order paper but let the country know that the debate will resume,” Parliament Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Obore confirms.
