[UAH] How Kampala Lord Mayor Lukwago survived losing seat - National - monitor.co.ug

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/How-Kampala-Lord-Mayor-Lukwago-survived-losing-seat/-/688334/1867796/-/molpx4z/-/index.html

After a fierce debate on a report by the Public Service and Local Government Committee last week that sought to dislodge the Lord Mayor, a new committee is to come up with fresh recommendations after many opposition MPs cited forgery in its signatures.

Even with the command of numbers that define our politics these days, armour-plated by a friendly Deputy Speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, the ruling NRM party failed to outsmart a diminutive opposition in the House to takeover Kampala, at least for now.

The suggestion that President Museveni takes over the management of the city, was allegedly 'smuggled' into the disputed Public Service and Local Government Committee report by Ms Florence Kintu (Kalungu) and Mr Raphael Magyezi (Igara West).

The report seeks to dislodge the political leadership as a political "antidote" to the unending power between the Lord Mayor, Mr Erias Lukwago and the Executive Director, Ms Jennifer Musisi. 
It took the House three dramatic days, quarrelling and sometimes shouting at the top of their voices over the authenticity of the report on the alleged mismanagement of public funds at KCCA and endless fights between the technical team and political leadership, largely blamed on a 'bad law' hurriedly passed by the lawmakers in 8th Parliament.
Amid accusations that the committee leadership was compromised by unnamed people in the government, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze (DP) and other committee members, mainly from the opposition, rejected the report presented by Ms Kintu as a 'forgery'.

They informed Mr Oulanyah that no meeting ever sat to evaluate evidence.

In the absence of the detailed minutes of the proceedings, Ms Nambooze and her group said a report with partial minutes contravened Rule 208 of the Rules of Procedure.

According to the rules, the minutes of proceedings of a Committee shall be laid on table together with the report. Out of 17 meetings, Ms Kintu only tabled three minutes, flouting the Rules of procedure.

"The chairperson of the committee told us that they had a meeting on May 15 to consider a draft report but the final typing of the report was done on May 12 (Sunday), one wonders how the committee sat to consider a report that had not been typed," Dr Fransis Epetit (FDC) said. Ms Kintu and Mr Magyezi denied any wrongdoing.

In defence of the report, the Minister of Kampala, who also doubles as the Minister for Presidency, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, accused the members questioning the authenticity of the report of using technicalities to block the KCCA debate. 
"A committee report is an output of the committee work and its authenticity can only be doubted and challenged by its authors. We are aware that the complaint had a very clear interest throughout the proceedings," Mr Tumwebazi said.

"Is it, therefore, procedurally right that people use technicalities well aware that the report is not in their favour to stifle debate?" he asked.

The Minister was heckled before the proceedings nearly became riotous when Mr Oulanyah tried to insist on the debate taking place yet the report's authenticity was being challenged.

Clerk locked out
Parliament also heard that the Committee Clerk, who was supposed to take minutes and draft the report for members to approve, was locked out of the proceedings through unclear circumstances.

The House also heard that the final report was drafted and approved by Ms Kintu and her deputy Mr Magyezi (NRM, Igara West). 
Ms Kintu confessed that the final meeting, which considered the draft report took place in her office, adding that some members were not informed contrary to Rule 192 (4).
Realising that the Committee Clerk was put on the back burner amid forgery allegations, some NRM MPs led by Felix Okot Ogong made a U-turn, demanding that Ms Kintu and Mr Magyezi be investigated by the Committee on Rules and Discipline.

Mr Ogong and group had previously endorsed the committee recommendations, stating that the President invokes Article 99 of the Constitution and takes over the affairs of Kampala City for a period of six months.

While Rule 193 (3) says in case of a complaint as to the authenticity of the report, the speaker shall halt the debate on the report and refer the matter to the clerk for investigation, Mr Oulanyah guided the House.

He said in the face of glaring procedural flaws, authenticity was not an issue since none of the members who signed it disowned their signatures.

How Kampala Lord Mayor Lukwago survived losing seat - National - monitor.co.ug
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/How-Kampala-Lord-Mayor-Lukwago-survived-losing-seat/-/688334/1867796/-/molpx4z/-/index.html

After a fierce debate on a report by the Public Service and Local Government Committee last week that sought to dislodge the Lord Mayor, a new committee is to come up with fresh recommendations after many opposition MPs cited forgery in its signatures.

Wrangles deepen
The Deputy Speaker tried to convince the members to debate the committee report so that Parliament can take decision on the 'problems' in KCCA but without success.

"We all agree that there is a problem in KCCA and that this House needs to do something about it. But we cannot find the solution without debating the report. We must pronounce ourselves on the committee recommendations," Mr Oulanyah said.

The committee members nearly traded punches in a special meeting ordered by the Deputy Speaker to allow Ms Nambooze and other members with dissenting opinion to explain their objections.

The meeting ended prematurely. When they came to the House, the clashes deepened, compelling Mr Oulanyah to instruct the Clerk to authenticate the meetings and the minutes of the committee.

In the end, the House resolved to institute a Select Committee to review the report and come up with fresh recommendations.
Amid the drama, the petitioners; Mr Lukwago, division mayors and some councillors were in the public gallery to hear their fate.
Ms Musisi was also in the lower technical gallery to witness the proceedings.

On December 11, last year, the petitioners, through MP Nambooze and Rubaga North MP Moses Kasibante, presented a petition seeking the intervention of Parliament to probe into the mismanagement of KCCA.

ymugerwa@ug.nationmedia.com