A Man Eateth Where He Worketh
From Monitor Online
Jamwa pens secret letter to Museveni
Posted in: News
By Risdel Kasasira
Oct 20, 2008 - 1:52:45 AM
Kampala
NSSF Managing Director David Jamwa last month wrote a secret brief to President Museveni detailing the political pressure he was put under to approve the controversial land deal with Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and businessman Amos Nzeyi, Daily Monitor can reveal.
Mr Jamwa denied having acted under political pressure but changed his position and confessed to MPs behind closed doors on October 2. It now appears that he did so after writing his September 29 letter to the President.
Details of Jamwa’s brief to President Museveni come a day after MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises completed their eight-week inquiry into the matter without agreement.
Six MPs on the 15-person bipartisan committee – all from the ruling National Resistance Movement party – said yesterday they would present a minority report after a leaked report criticized Mr Mbabazi’s role in the deal.
The six include Stephen Tashobya (Kajara) the NRM whip on the committee, Pereza Ahabwe (Rubanda East), Rose Munyira (Busia), James Kakooza (Kabula), Tress Bucanayandi (Bufumbira), Aggrey Bagiire (Bunya West) and Eric Kaahwa (Buruuli).
MPs on the committee, who are investigating allegations of price inflation, violation of procurement laws and political influence-peddling in the Shs11b deal, have complained of sustained efforts to influence them during the hearings. Mr Mbabazi, who is also NRM’s Secretary General, denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Jamwa’s letter to Museveni is kinder to Mbabazi but does not absolve him entirely. The letter lays more of the blame before Mr Nzeyi and Finance Minister Dr Ezra Suruma who is in charge of the National Social Security Fund and who approved the controversial deal.
It chronicles an attempt by shareholders of the National Bank of Commerce – where Nzeyi is the chairman and both Suruma and Mbabazi shareholders – to raise money to buy out their Kenyan-based majority shareholders and keep out cash-rich Nigerian investors.
He reveals that the NSSF was put under pressure to deposit money in Tropical Bank to guarantee a loan that the bank advanced to the shareholders to stave off the Nigerians. The land deal was then done hurriedly – in 10 days – and the proceeds paid into Tropical Bank
Mr Jamwa says Mr Nzeyi allegedly assured him that “he was so close to the President”, claimed he had helped fund the First Lady’s parliamentary campaign in Ruhaama, and assured the NSSF MD of political protection, in case anything went wrong. “In a quite intimidating fashion, the main seller (Mr Nzeyi) would tell me how close he is to you, Mr. President, Sir. He mentioned having constructed your Rwakitura home, divulging to me intimate details of the layout of your house, and who sleeps in which bedroom,” Mr Jamwa alleges.
Mr Jamwa also alleged that Mr Nzeyi had assured him that Mr Mbabazi, who is a right hand man of the president, had asked for the President’s approval for the minister to sale his land. Dr Suruma, Mr Nzeyi and President Museveni’s spokesman, Mr Tamale Mirundi, were all unavailable for comment yesterday.
Mr Mbabazi and Mr Nzeyi have admitted investing the money into the NCB to stave off the Nigerians but deny putting any pressure on the Fund.
After Jamwa’s in-camera testimony before MPs on October 2 – following which he asked for police protection claiming his life was in danger – Dr Suruma addressed a press conference and denied putting pressure on the MD.
Dr Suruma said the NSSF had brought him five different land purchase deals which he approved without looking at the specifics. Mr Nzeyi, who re-appeared before the committee on October 3, dismissed Mr Jamwa’s turn-around, describing the Fund boss as “a sinking man”.
Jamwa’s brief to State House appears to indicate that President Museveni has been fully aware of the politics around the inquiry – including Dr Suruma’s refusal to suspend the NSSF boss on the orders of Vice President Gilbert Bukenya who chaired a Cabinet sub-committee on the matter.
Mr Jamwa does not answer to the President but his brief will put the burden of action squarely on Mr Museveni.
© Copyright 2008 by Monitor Online
Jamwa pens secret letter to Museveni
Posted in: News
By Risdel Kasasira
Oct 20, 2008 - 1:52:45 AM
Kampala
NSSF Managing Director David Jamwa last month wrote a secret brief to President Museveni detailing the political pressure he was put under to approve the controversial land deal with Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and businessman Amos Nzeyi, Daily Monitor can reveal.
Mr Jamwa denied having acted under political pressure but changed his position and confessed to MPs behind closed doors on October 2. It now appears that he did so after writing his September 29 letter to the President.
Details of Jamwa’s brief to President Museveni come a day after MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises completed their eight-week inquiry into the matter without agreement.
Six MPs on the 15-person bipartisan committee – all from the ruling National Resistance Movement party – said yesterday they would present a minority report after a leaked report criticized Mr Mbabazi’s role in the deal.
The six include Stephen Tashobya (Kajara) the NRM whip on the committee, Pereza Ahabwe (Rubanda East), Rose Munyira (Busia), James Kakooza (Kabula), Tress Bucanayandi (Bufumbira), Aggrey Bagiire (Bunya West) and Eric Kaahwa (Buruuli).
MPs on the committee, who are investigating allegations of price inflation, violation of procurement laws and political influence-peddling in the Shs11b deal, have complained of sustained efforts to influence them during the hearings. Mr Mbabazi, who is also NRM’s Secretary General, denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Jamwa’s letter to Museveni is kinder to Mbabazi but does not absolve him entirely. The letter lays more of the blame before Mr Nzeyi and Finance Minister Dr Ezra Suruma who is in charge of the National Social Security Fund and who approved the controversial deal.
It chronicles an attempt by shareholders of the National Bank of Commerce – where Nzeyi is the chairman and both Suruma and Mbabazi shareholders – to raise money to buy out their Kenyan-based majority shareholders and keep out cash-rich Nigerian investors.
He reveals that the NSSF was put under pressure to deposit money in Tropical Bank to guarantee a loan that the bank advanced to the shareholders to stave off the Nigerians. The land deal was then done hurriedly – in 10 days – and the proceeds paid into Tropical Bank
Mr Jamwa says Mr Nzeyi allegedly assured him that “he was so close to the President”, claimed he had helped fund the First Lady’s parliamentary campaign in Ruhaama, and assured the NSSF MD of political protection, in case anything went wrong. “In a quite intimidating fashion, the main seller (Mr Nzeyi) would tell me how close he is to you, Mr. President, Sir. He mentioned having constructed your Rwakitura home, divulging to me intimate details of the layout of your house, and who sleeps in which bedroom,” Mr Jamwa alleges.
Mr Jamwa also alleged that Mr Nzeyi had assured him that Mr Mbabazi, who is a right hand man of the president, had asked for the President’s approval for the minister to sale his land. Dr Suruma, Mr Nzeyi and President Museveni’s spokesman, Mr Tamale Mirundi, were all unavailable for comment yesterday.
Mr Mbabazi and Mr Nzeyi have admitted investing the money into the NCB to stave off the Nigerians but deny putting any pressure on the Fund.
After Jamwa’s in-camera testimony before MPs on October 2 – following which he asked for police protection claiming his life was in danger – Dr Suruma addressed a press conference and denied putting pressure on the MD.
Dr Suruma said the NSSF had brought him five different land purchase deals which he approved without looking at the specifics. Mr Nzeyi, who re-appeared before the committee on October 3, dismissed Mr Jamwa’s turn-around, describing the Fund boss as “a sinking man”.
Jamwa’s brief to State House appears to indicate that President Museveni has been fully aware of the politics around the inquiry – including Dr Suruma’s refusal to suspend the NSSF boss on the orders of Vice President Gilbert Bukenya who chaired a Cabinet sub-committee on the matter.
Mr Jamwa does not answer to the President but his brief will put the burden of action squarely on Mr Museveni.
© Copyright 2008 by Monitor Online
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