Prime
Uganda Ministers Kutesa, Nasasira, Rukutana step aside
Foreign Affairs Minister Kutesa has decided to step aside as investigations into his role during CHOGM are conducted.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, together with Government Chief Whip John Nasasira and Junior labour minister Mwesigwa Rukutana have this afternoon announced they have stepped down from Cabinet ahead of their trial before the anti-corruption court tomorrow.
Their stepping aside follows indictments over their alleged role in the Shs 14b tender for fixing Speke Resort Munyonyo, ahead of the the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.
In a joint statement in Kampala today afternoon, the trio said they had decided to step aside, to allow the due process of court to take place without interference.
“We shall definitely take opportunity to plead our innocence and demonstrate that we are not guilty of the offences charged,” the statement read.
“We have, in order to allow for the due process of the Court, which we highly believe in, and in the interest of the party to which we belong and the Government we serve, deemed it prudent and desirable to seek leave from our Appointing authority so as to step aside, until this matter is concluded,” the statement signed by the trio read.
The trio, are facing two charges of abuse of office and causing financial loss, according to a charge sheet presented to the court by the IGG prosecutor Rogers Kinobe.
The court’s chief magistrate Ms Irene Akankwasa issued criminal summons for Mr Kutesa, Mr Nasasira and Mr Rukutana, all hitherto thought to be untouchables in President Museveni’s government.
They will appear before the court on Thursday October 13, where they will be formally charged.
The IGG says the trio, while performing their duties, did, in abuse of authority, irregularly convened a consultative cabinet meeting and decided to that the government would fully fund the construction cost of the drive ways, parking areas and marina at Speke Resort Munyonyo hotel, which decision caused the government a loss of Shs 14 billion. The facility, which housed the visiting presidents in November 2007 is owned by city tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.
By dragging to court, Mr Kutesa, an in-law to the President, the IGG has moved to cool tensions over claims of selective prosecution leveled against his office, in the wake of the charging of former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya for his role in the procurement of executive cars for the summit.
Prof. Bukenya, who was granted bail on Tuesday, after spending a week behind bars, stands indicted for reportedly using his influence to award the Shs 9.4billion Chogm car deal to Motorcar (U) Ltd without proper tendering.
Both Mr Kutesa and Mr Nasasira, a former works minister are tribes mates to President Museveni, and have often been regarded untouchables.
Full Statement from Kutesa, Nasasira and Mwesigwa Rukutana stepping aside
Dated 13, 0ctober 2011
Tomorrow we are appearing before court to answer to charges of causing financial loss arisisng out of our official duties Chogm. We shall definitely take the opportunity to plead our innocence and demonstate that we are not guilty of the offences charged.
We have, inorder to allow for the due process of the court, which we highly believe in, and in the interest of the party which we belong and the government which we serve deemed it prudent and desirable to seek leave from our Apppoinintg Authoirty so as to step aside until the matter is concluded.
Dated 13, October 2011
Signed: Sam Kutesa
John Nasasira
Mwesigwa Rukutana
