The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, on August 26 blocked the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) from probing the redevelopment of the Nakivubo Channel by businessman Hamis Kiggundu (Ham), and replaced it with a five-man ‘fact-finding team’.
In doing so, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, said she bungled the probe. ‘…those manoeuvres by the Speaker of Parliament were calculated to frustrate investigations into the Ham scam…,’ Mr Lukwago said on Tuesday. Parliament’s Director of Communication Chris Obore, however, said Ms Among did nothing wrong.
‘Parliament committees are not enforcement organs. Would the Ssegona-led committee also stop landslides that killed people in the Sebei Sub-region? Was Among a Speaker of Parliament when arcades were approved and built in Nakivubo Channel?’ Mr Obore asked.
The Among-selected fact-finding team, led by the chairperson of the Physical Infrastructure Committee, Mr Dan Kimosho (Kazo County), was tasked with conducting an oversight visit to the Nakivubo Channel and report back to Parliament within 14 days. The probe stemmed from Elgon North MP Gerald Nanguli’s query about the manner in which Ham was allowed to build structures over the channel. Mr Obore earlier defended Ms Among, saying: ‘The Speaker has the power to institute a fact-finding team. If she has done so, then Cosase is better advised to wait for the process to end.’
The project has proceeded with backing from President Museveni, who has publicly defended it as a ‘model of modern city redevelopment’, despite drawing widespread criticism. Mr Lukwago describing Ms Among’s decision to block Cosase from probing Ham Nakivubo deal as ‘shocking’ and ‘dramatic twist’. He added: ‘If the Speaker had addressed herself to the law and gravity of the matter, she could recall all MPs from recess and demand that the committee hears the matter expeditiously and make a report within a week, and not disrupt proceedings of a committee.’ ‘That is how they have frustrated the prosecution we had initiated – the charge sheet we had prepared against Hamis Kiggundu, and now they are at the apex of the audit system (August House),’ Mr Lukwago said, adding that his next course of action was to take on the Speaker and the House.
‘We are retreating back to our offices to chart a new course of action and direction to take on the Speaker and the House head-on; we are taking the battle to the Speaker until we regain control and possession of our national asset.’ Mr Lukwago, said a new company he identified as ‘Ki Ham’ has already acquired titles within the Nakivubo Channel corridor. ‘The title was previously owned by Ham’s bagboy, Nakibinge, but it has now been transferred to Ki Ham (Kiggundu Hamis),’ he said. Efforts to get a response to Mr Obore’s comment from Mr Lukwago were futile as he didn’t return our repeated calls or respond to messages. Last Friday, parts of downtown Kampala were submerged after heavy rainfall triggered floods that swept through shops, streets, and the New Taxi Park. Merchandise worth millions of shillings were damaged.
This ignited public outrage over the ongoing construction works atop the Nakivubo Channel. The traders have since have filed a lawsuit against Mr Kiggundu, KCCA, and National Environment Management Authority, accusing the trio of ‘negligence’. The traders, among others, want the court to halt the ongoing construction works and order compensation for lost goods. The traders contend that Ham Enterprises’ redevelopment works around diverted storm water, causing it to pour into arcades. Mr Godfrey Katongole, the chairperson of the Uganda National Traders Alliance, said ‘at least 300 traders’ have already reported losses, with the number still growing.