PARLIAMENT: The Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa has scoffed at the censure motion that was prepared by Odonga Otto, Aruu County MP against the Minister of Lands, Betty Amongi, saying the motion has aborted even before it gets to the floor of Parliament.
While meeting journalists at Parliament today, Nankabirwa revealed that although there has been a precedent set of Ministers being censured by Parliament, all the earlier cases had a ground for the censure, unlike Otto’s that has no merit.
Nankabirwa, who doubles as Kiboga Woman MP said that unlike the reports making rounds that Otto has garnered signatures to move his motion, the reports are false as only one MP has appended signatures to the motion.
“There is nothing to worry about, saving Betty Among, saving her from what? I went to the Sergeant at Arms office because I was told that that is where MPs are signing from, I found, only one person had signed. So what are you talking about Odonga Otto soliciting for signatures?” Nankabirwa asked rhetorically.
The Kiboga Woman MP quoted Article 118 of the Constitution that requires the censure motion to have gist, stating that Otto’s lacks merit.
“Already the process is aborting. It is in the final stages of aborting. I have been around for some time, I know serious issues that can cause a censure because we have ever successfully censured Ministers at our time because we have critically analysed issues, but now, because you have collided with somebody because of the work you are doing, somebody wants to bring a censure motion,” she continued.
It should be recalled that Otto filed a notice to file a motion on 9th May 2018 in which he accsued Amongi of fraudulently influencing the allocation of prime properties; Plot 29 Acacia Avenue Kololo, Plot 22(A) Prince Charles Drive Kololo, Plot 18 Perryman Gardens LRV61 Folio23 Kampala and Plot 15/17 First Street Industrial Area which were formerly managed by the Board to AMOBET INVESTMENTS LTD; a company where she is the Managing Director and has controlling interest by holding 60% shares.
In his motion, the FDC Legislator asserted that that Amongin used his position as Minister of Lands to illegally spearheaded the transfer of 88 properties at the Ministry of Lands without clearance from the Departed Asians’ Properties Custodian Board, where she is a member.
Otto justified Amongi’s motion on grounds that she grossly abused her office and mismanaged the properties of the departed Asians in total disregard of the requirements of the Expropriated Properties Act, Cap 87 of the Laws of Uganda and the Departed Asians Act, Cap 83 of the Laws of Uganda.
“Amongi willfully and flagrantly violated the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Minister she took and subscribed prior to assuming the Office of Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development and worse still breached the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 and the Leadership Code Act, 2002 thereby denigrating the office of Cabinet Minister,” read in part Otto’s motion.
