The State Minister for Housing, Persis Namuganza, on Friday evaded appearing before Parliament’s Select Committee investigating her alleged misconduct and contempt of Parliament.
The Committee Chaired by Mbarara City South MP, Mwine Mpaka, was instituted last week by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, to summon Namuganza to summon Namuganza to defend herself on the matter.
Namuganza was to appear at 10:00 am in 102B North Wing Room of Parliament to defend herself but instead sent a representative, Norman Pande, a lawyer from Mwanja & Company Advocates.
Pande confirmed to the Committee that their client received the letter inviting her for the meeting to defend herself against allegations of misconduct contained in the motion. However, he argued the attachments to the letter only refer to allegations of media publications which were not attached.
Her lawyer presented a letter dated Thursday 12, 2023 addressed to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Clerk to Parliament and the Select Committee citing sub judice, short notice and lack of evidence of the allegations levied against the Minister to enable her file defense.
Mpaka agreed to give the Minister more time to appear before the Committee to defend herself. His attempt to transmit the evidence to Namuganza through the representative fell on deaf ears as Pande vehemently denied taking responsibility.
Mpaka adjourned the meeting to Tuesday next week, skipping Monday which is normally a day for the meeting of Cabinet Ministers with the President. The Select Committee has until January 23rd, 2023 to present its report on the floor of Parliament for subsequent steps.
During the Committee’s first sitting on Thursday, a section of Members of Parliament presented before the Committee, evidence supporting her censure.
Among them is John Amos Okot, the Agago North Member of Parliament who presented video footage streamed on YouTube channel and others that aired on NTV and NBS news bulletin where Namuganza allegedly made offensive statements against Parliament and Speaker Anita Among which he urged the Committee to consider.
Dan Kimosho, the Kazo County MP provided photocopies of Daily Monitor newspaper articles published on May 23, 2022, where Namuganza was quoted describing Committees of Parliament as a ‘torture chamber’ contrary to Rules 4 and 5 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
Mpaka tasked the witnesses to present letters of authentication from NTV, BaBa TV, NBS and Daily Monitor Publications or from any other sources from where the evidence originated to support their accusations against the Minister.
Although she was expected to be in attendance to listen and witness the pieces of evidence against her, Namuganza did not turn up.