The Finance Minister Matia Kasaijja has said that the orders by Investment Minister Evelyn Anite to audit Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) are unlawful.
In May this year, Anite said that government had encountered considerable difficulties in dealing with present UTL boss Bemanya Twebaze and ordered the Attorney General’s office to urgently apply to the court to remove Bemanya from his position.
However, Anite’s request was rejected by Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana who said she had no powers over the administrator.
The matters escalated up to President Yoweri Museveni who on 16 July wrote to Anite directing her to institute an audit in the activities that are going on UTL and it will be the audit report to determine Bamanya’s fate at UTL.
“I have heard of some allegations. The audit should clear them or confirm them,” reads part of the letter.
Nevertheless, according to Kasaijja, Anite wanted to use the president’s directive unlawfully.
Talking to journalists at his office on Friday, the Finance Minister said that even if the President gave Anite orders, she has to perform them within the structures of laws governing the institute in question.
“Some people are working outside the laws and as a minister, I cannot allow that, since at one time I will be questioned why such things happened,” he said.
Kassaija noted that he has on several occasions distanced himself from issues of UTL because both parties clashing are acting outside the law.
“My time to get involved has not come yet. Let them first fight however all of them have to act according to the law even if it’s President’s order it must be done inside the circular of the law.
“Currently, there is no need to audit UTL, unfortunately, the Minister is outside the country but I will inform her when she comes back, I already sent her a message but she has not yet replied me,” Kasaija said.
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