Igara East Member of Parliament and Head of Mobilization, Patriotic League Uganda (PLU) Michael Mawanda and Elgon MP Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu have been summoned by the Criminal Intelligence Directorate (CID) of Police.
According to reliable sources, Mawanda who is also the Head of Disciplinary Committee at PLU, is summoned over alleged involvement in corruption and theft of funds meant for Cooperatives.
The summons are part of a wider investigation into corruption cases involving MPs, parliamentary staff and some officials at the Ministry of Finance.
The MPs are said to have lured and connived with a law firm that took the biggest percentage of the money that was supposed to be paid to the cooperatives.
Mudimi, formerly the deputy chairperson of the Budget Committee of Parliament is accused of colluding with other legislators to pass the Shs 164 billion for compensation and later masquerade as beneficiaries of the same fund.
It is alleged that of this money, MP Ignatius Mudimi Nyasio Wamakuyu received Shs 1,050,000,000.
Last year, the former state minister for Trade, Harriet Ntababazi revealed that up to 30 legislators were to face criminal investigation over their alleged role in the embezzlement of UGX164Bn meant for compensation to the Cooperative Societies.
While appearing before the Committee on Trade and Tourism to update the MPs on the financial and physical performance of the trade and industry sector, Ntabazi said among those facing the probe by the police are five “talkative” opposition MPs.
“The Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) is taking on files, around 5 files have been identified and the good thing with it, it wasn’t only the Ministry, there are more than 30 MPs who are into this including Opposition MPs, five active opposition MPs, very talkative and noise makers (who) will also face it rough. We shall also face it as a Ministry, but they will also face it. So, we aren’t scared, wherever it will end, God knows, let it unfold that way,” said Ntabazi.
The summons to MPs Mawanda and Wamakuyu come a few days after three Members of Parliament were sent to prison over budget-related fraud
Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju, Yusuf Mutembuli of Bunyole East in Butaleja District, and Busiki MP Paul Akamba were arrested last week and arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court over corruption.
President Museveni recently said he had started a serious war on corruption. He revealed at the State of the Nation Address that he had finally received evidence against a corrupt cartel and pledged to crush them.
He noted that he had been getting good information about corrupt actors among the public servants but also among the political actors.
“I have been hearing that from the Ministry of Finance, they collude with the accounting officers of ministries to come to Parliament, working with some people there (Parliament), to provide certain funds, provided you take a share. I didn’t believe this but now I have proof,” said Museveni.
He added, “With firm evidence, I will crush these traitors. Public servants and political leaders that steal Government money will be crushed.”
Parliament is reportedly tensed up following the arrest of the three MPs. Several legislators have told SoftPower News that some of their colleagues are holed up in the countryside out of fear they could be arrested. They insist everyone should carry their cross.
