By Simon Turibamwe
As Ugandans conclude debates of DAG Mwesigwa Rukutana and Justice Catherine Bamugemereire saga at the Wandegeya based commission of Inquiry into land matters, another legal war is looming between Mbarara district officials and president Museveni’s appointed State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt Col Edith Nakalema. Like Rukutana said that Bamugemereire has limited powers compared to what she exercises, the Mbarara district officials are accusing Nakalema of exercising powers beyond her mandate. The district officials including the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr. Felix Esoku, Godlive Nayebare, Rosalia Karuhanga, Emanuel Himbisa and Aggrey Atukwase who were recently interrogated and arrested by Nakalema led State House Anti-Corruption Unit, have run to High Court accusing Nakalema of using excessive powers. The troubled officials further accuse Nakalema’s unit for operating without an enabling law and that it infringes on the functions of established anti-corruption agencies such as IGG and Police. According to the daily monitor reports, the officials have petitioned the high court challenging the mandate of Nakalema’s State House Anti-Corruption Unit to arrest and prosecute. Currently, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit is in Mbarara district investigating a number of officials over alleged issues of corruption and abuse of office. In February, the unit arrested four district officials including the CAO who were later charged in Anti- Corruption Court in Kampala and released on bail. While at the district, the district chairperson Capt. JB Tumusiime Bakamuturaki and Speaker Mr Balam Ndyaguma whom they said were part of their wider investigations were also grilled for several hours.
NOT INTIMIDATED
The officials’ running to High Court seem not to intimidate Lt Col Nakalema’s team which has continued to arrest more and issuing warrants of arrest for others who escaped after sensing trouble during interrogations. The unit which has pitched camp in the area also stormed Mbarara Municipal Council where they grilled a number of officials before arresting the Town Clerk Mr Edward Lwanga and the treasurer Mr Richard Kerere for failure to account for government funds and fraudulent land transactions. The Town Clerk and his subordinates are being investigated for failure to account for Uganda Road Funds and Uganda Support to Municipalities Infrastructure Development Funds. Others who were grilled by the unintimidated Lt Col Nakalema who said that she will no stone unturned in Mbarara, include the town physical planner, Ms Caroline Warugaba, senior internal auditor Moses Mwesigwa, Clerk to Council Ms Joselyn Kiconco, town engineer Mr Sebastian Bashaija and his assistant Aggrey Atukwase. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
