Kadaga stops House from debating Anite ‘mafia’ concerns

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on Tuesday stopped the House from debating claims by State Minister for Privatisation and Investment Evelyn Anite that mafias are plotting to kill her.

On Monday, Anite held a press conference in Kampala, where she said that there was a plan to stop her from the auditing Uganda Telecom (UTL) and to end her life. 

“There is a plan by the mafias is to take Anite out of the picture. I might die but history will judge them. You know the mafias. They are the ones who have been blocking the audit. These mafias are not jokers. Go and ask Abiriga or late Francis Ayume but I will die with my mouth open. I will die while shouting the mafias are coming until they take me down. They are tapping my phone. I hear their voices when I pick up my phone,” she said.

Following her cry for help, legislators from West Nile held a press conference on Tuesday and threatened to leave Uganda for the Democratic Republic of Congo if Anite’s life is ended.

Lawrence Bayika Songa, the chairman West Nile caucus said government must not take death threats lightly because West Nile still has many unanswered questions over the murder of the former Arua Municipality lawmaker Ibrahim Abiriga.

The caucus resolved to take the matter on the floor of Parliament during the plenary to ensure that Anite’s security is doubled.

On reaching the floor, Alioni Yorke, the lawmaker from Aringa South raised the issue as a matter of national importance and argued that the West Nile region has not yet received a report on who gunned down Abiriga in June 2018 yet another West Nile member is being threatened.

“As lawmakers from the West Nile region we want the government to address Anite’s concerns and also demand an explanation from the government on the threats on Anite’s life. We also demand it to pronounce itself on Anite’s security,” he said.

However, Kadaga bashed his plea, calling it ‘hearsay’ which the Parliament can not debate about since there is a lack of authenticity and the victim’s voice.

 “Hon Anite should come here herself and present her issues on this matter. What you are telling us is now hearsay and we don’t work like that. Let her come in my office, it’s open let her come,” said Kadaga.