A day after President Yoweri Museveni criticized the approach employed by Parliament in its ongoing probe of the Central Bank, Abdul Katuntu who chairs the probe committee has said that the committee will not subdue to pressure.
On Monday, President Museveni said Parliament was wrong to conduct the probe of Bank of Uganda in public view saying it risks eroding public confidence in the regulator of the banking sector.
The President said the probe, which he admitted was necessary, ought to have been done in-camera, to minimize the damage.
“I think the procedure is wrong. Because, this is Bank of Uganda. If you want to investigate it, why don’t you do it quietly? Why don’t you do it in-camera?” the President said while responding to queries from the press at the Office of the President in Kampala.
Read More: Parliament Was Wrong to Make BOU Probe Public, Says Museveni
“I think the inquiry is good but they are doing it the wrong way. I have not had time to speak to the Speaker but I think they are doing it wrongly”.
However, on Tuesday as the Committe on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) proceeded with its hearings, Bugweri county MP, Abdul Katuntu said that the committee will not cow to pressure.
“We don’t do things because we are responding to what people are saying. We do things because we think they are right, and we let them judge,” Katuntu said.
“The definition of ourselves should be ourselves. We will not act under any pressure or negative propaganda,” he added.
Katuntu said that there are several individuals who do not wish to see the investigation into Bank of Uganda go through, which unfortunately, the committee can not do anything to change.
“There are many people who don’t wish this process well. The only thing they can do to discredit it. That, we have no power over, let them do it. But we shall do what we think is correct,” Katuntu said.
His reaction came after Katikamu county North MP, Abraham Byandala commented on the perception of the public towards the manner in which the probe is being conducted. Byandala challenged critics and instead said that the committee seeks to add value since Parliament and Bank of Uganda both act for the good of the country.
