“MP Emmanuel Otaala (West Budama South) mocked Jimmy Akena (Lira East Division) for behaving like his father (Milton Obote) who was a dictator, after the former First Son refused to switch off his microphone in a heated Committee meeting at Parliament.
Akena: Don’t overrule everything and not listen to others, the point here is very critical, I am going to continue. I am not switching it (microphone) off.
Otaala: Your dad was a dictator and that is on record”
(…) ”Earlier on, the two had disagreed over attempts by Otaala to block media from covering Committee proceedings on the scrutiny of the contract signed between Government and Vitol (company hired as sole importer of fuel and gas products into Uganda) over claims that the agreement had confidentiality clauses. Akena questioned Vitol’s business ethics citing the US$135m the company was fined by US & Brazil Gov’t on bribery allegations” (ParliamentWatch, 08.11.2023).
Today we heard a story as old as time, a Parliamentary Committee wants to hide or keep things private. Even when their hearing and inquiry is public. The Committee Chairman Otaala must be ordered and wanted to adhere to it. While Akena pushed for openness, as the citizens should know the details behind Vitol and the Government of Uganda (GoU).
It is bad when the government is hiring a company to do one, as they are creating a monopoly and the stipulations of the agreement should be made public. The agreement should be known … and what it details. However, we are now aware that Otaala as a part of the government doesn’t want the truth out. Meaning the reasons for not unleashing it must be bad and the core parts of the deal might be shady. That’s why the dissent and opposition pushed the edges…
Otaala can call Obote whatever he wants and Obote has to live up to his legacy. Just like Otaala will live up to his own. His actions today isn’t good looking and now I want to have more insight into the Vitol agreement, which has monopoly of imports of fuel and gas to the Republic. That is needed to be public and not be kept in an achieve.
That Akena pushes the Chairman and gets him on “edge” is good for the Republic actually. Because, then maybe the truth can come out or if not be able to set a date for further inquiry. As the stakeholders and the ones signing the agreement should meet the committee in question. There is a need for more meat on the bone and the “hot-air” is solving anything.
The agreement was apparently also made in darkness and now Akena or others has to shed a light on it. As the citizens needs to know what is going on and why the GoU did this. Peace.