{UAH} MPs throw out Otafiire over DPP’s delayed appointment

My favorite Minister Mavi Yakuku

Kahinda Otafiire

By Henry Sekanjako

MPs on the legal and parliamentary affairs committee of Parliament have turned away justice andconstitutional affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire over the delay by government to appoint a new Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Otafiire who was in company of officials from DPP'S office had appeared before the committee to present the DPP's budgetary policy statement for the financial year 2013/2104.

"We cannot meet you until a new DPP has been appointed. This is a constitutional office which should have a DPP," remarked Stephen Tashobya the committee chairman.

The office of the DPP fell vacant after President Museveni appointed former DPP Richard Butera and his deputy Damalie Lwanga as Constitutional court judges three months ago.

The MPs expressed concern that the absence of a substantive DPP and deputy DPP was denying suspects the right to trial and creating a backlog in cases filed to the directorate.

"we are privy to how you work, the appointment of a DPP would take you a year , at least get someone in acting capacity however much this is not allowed," said Steven Bakka , deputy committee chairman.

Last week, the same committee deferred consideration of the directorate's budget saying it was not fully constituted as required by the law after it declined to meet a 15 member team from the directorate led by deputy DPP Amos Ngolobe and asked them to return with Kahinda Otaffire yesterday.

However even when Otafiire had appeared with the team to convince MPs to atleast to pass the directorate's budget to work on the cases that continue piling, The MPs seemed un convinced as they asked him to walk out with his team.

"I am going to talk to the president about the DPP's appointment though I cannot push him to appoint the DPP hurriedly, but I will remind him so that the names for the appointees are forwarded to parliament for vetting," Otafiire pleaded to the MPs.

Article 120 of the constitution states that there shall be a DPP appointed by the President on recommendation of the public service commission with parliamentary approval.

Otaffire assured the committee that President Yoweri Museveni who is the appointing authority was working closely with the public service commission to appointment a new DPP to fill the vacancy.

"I am going to talk to the president about the DPP's appointment though I cannot push him to appoint the DPP hurriedly, but I will remind him so that the names for the appointees are forwarded to parliament for vetting," Otafiire pleaded with the MPs.

The MPs however stuck to their guns and asked Otafiire and his team to vacate the meeting and only return when a new DPP has been appointed. The meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday next week.

The DPP is mandated to direct police to investigate any information of a criminal nature and report to him.

The DPP is also responsible for instituting criminal proceedings against any person or authority in any court with competent jurisdiction. 

--

*A positive mind is a courageous mind, without doubts and fears, using the experience and wisdom to give the best of him/herself.

 

 We must dare invent the future!
The only way of limiting the usurpation of power by
 individuals, the military or otherwise, is to put the people in charge  - Capt. Thomas. Sankara {RIP} '1949-1987

 *"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent

revolution inevitable"**…  *J.F Kennedy