UTL Saga: Anite humbled as Museveni orders AG, Justice Minister to stick to Cabinet position

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has come out and put pen on paper directing the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Kahinda Otafiire and Attorney General to stick to cabinet decision on the matter of the now embattled Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) company.

In a letter dated July 3 2019, in which the Prime Minister, The Minister for Finance and the Attorney General are copied, President Museveni reminded Minister Kahinda Otafiire that prior to his writing, he had a telephone conversation with him and therefore should stick to it.

The president advised that instead of divesting off UTL, he was of the view that government should instead look around for an investor to revamp it.

“As I have guided on several occasions, given the strategic importance of UTL to the economy, Government has been in the process of identifying a suitable investor/s to partner with to revamp UTL as opposed to divesting”, part of Museveni’s letter read adding that the decision to revamp the company was also taken by government.

Museveni  said no actions contrary to cabinet positions should be taken and added that cabinet must always be consulted on any investment or related decisions concerning UTL before they are taken.

The president’s decision upholds Clause 4 of the Administration Deed that stipulates that the duties of the administrator are to collect outstanding sums of monies from government return the company to profitability and look for an investor to recapitalize the business thus giving UTL Administrator Bemanya Twebaze a sigh of relief.

Anite wanted UTL administrator Bemanya Twebaze kicked out of office over alleged gross misconduct and corruption saying he is adamant to make public books of accounts.

She wrote to the Attorney General, terminating the services of Twebaze Bemanya and directed that a court order be sought to secure an order for change of the administrator but the AG advised otherwise.