By John V Sserwaniko
Chaos erupted today at the Land Commission of Inquiry when Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana lost his cool and told off Chairperson Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. Rukutana, who took no prisoners in his approach to tough questions put to him by lead counsel Ebert Byenkya, told journalists after being disgracefully thrown out of the session that he was unrepentant about all he said. “Reporting me to the President? What is that supposed to mean? She can as well go and report to the Pope or even God if she can,” Rukutana sturbonly told reporters after Bamugemereire angrily stormed out ordering him to leave immediately. So furious was Bamugemereire that the counter terrorism operatives manning security were directed to ensure Rukutana doesn’t use the VIP exit where he entered from on arrival in the morning. On being shoveled out by the inquiry security, Rukutana protested by saying “I have told her what I knew and I have discharged my duty. It doesn’t matter anymore how I exit.” Rukutana, whose indifference to Byenkya’s questions had irked many since morning, caused problems for himself. Clearly irritated with his arrogant answers, Bamugemereire stopped Byenkya and asked Rukutana to behave himself as expected of him as AG and begin respecting counsel and the entire Commission. Without even allowing Bamugemereire to finish her point, Rukutana said “I will only be respectful if I’m respected also.” This angered people in the audience prompting Bamugemereire to call off the session whereafter she immediately announced “get out right now.” She accused Rukutana of failing to exhibit minimum decoram expected of him as Deputy Attorney General but the man from Ntungamo remained obstinate. He grabbed the microphone and tried to respond defending himself, prompting Bamugemereire to storm out instead without even waiting for the usual procedural rituals of ringing the bell to be performed. Rukutana then stood up and dramatically started saying he hadn’t done anything wrong except that his legally intelligent answers overwhelmed the Commission whose boss he said was only out to get him as opposed to acting in good faith. Bamugemereire said she was referring the matter to the President “because he is the appointing authority who gave us this assignment.” Rukutana subsequently casually told repoprters it’s better Bamugemereire reports him to “either God or the Pope.” As we repoprted earlier in the morning, Rukutana was here to account for his curious legal opinion clearing the finance Ministry to pay Shs24bn to Dr Mohammed Kasasa as compensation for the 12 acres of land in Mutungo which land the government to fail to have proper possession of because the Kabaka is in court challenging kasasa’s tilte as fake. More details later…
