Kadaga: Katuntu Asked for Extension of COSASE Tenure

In a completely conflicting statement to that made by MP Abdul Katuntu days ago, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has revealed that her decision to have the tenure of the leadership of the committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) was on the request of Katuntu who is the Chairperson.

Kadaga made the revelation while appearing during an interview with NBS TV Thursday morning.

“The Committee made a request for an extension. This is our institution and this is the work of our country. I would be reckless to say the Committee should stop. Let’s not try to run Parliament on the streets. We have Rules that we operate with,” Kadaga said in response to the COSASE impasse.

Kadaga’s revelation is contrary to what Katuntu told the committee while resuming the committee proceedings a few days ago.

Katuntu who doubles as MP for Bugweri had been pushed by the incoming Vice Chairperson, Moses Kasibante to clarify on whether he had requested the Speaker to have the tenure for COSASE leadership extended well knowing it was against the Parliament rules of procedure.

But in response, Katuntu said that the decision for the extension was made by the Speaker after the committee presented their brief report to her on the on-going Bank of Uganda (BOU) probe.

“We never went to the Speaker requesting for an extension, we simply went before her to report to her on how far we had gone with the BOU investigations,” Katuntu said.

The Speaker’s statement on Thursday comes as a time when the country is waiting for her final announcement on the floor of the House on how to resolve the impasse following her meeting with the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) this week.

Kadaga was expected to make the announcement during her communication to the House on Wednesday on all Standing Committees whose term of leadership ended on January 13, but she was silent on the matter.

Still, during Thursday’s plenary, the Speaker remained silent. The committee on COSASE hasn’t sat to continue with committee work since its adjournment last week.

Katuntu had earlier told the media that he would stop chairing the committee as soon as his term ends, noting however that any decision is in the discretion of the Speaker.