Court okays oil probe

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi

The Constitutional Court has this morning ruled that the Parliamentary Adhoc committee investigating the oil sector was legally established and should go ahead with its work.

This is the case filed by a one Saverino Twinobusingye, a voter from Kikizi West challenging the Committee set up to probe allegations of corruption against Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and internal affairs minister Hilary Onek.

The committee was set up following accusations alleging that the ministers received billions in bribes to favor some oil companies against others. Saverino, through his lawyer John Mary Mugisha told court that Parliament could not form a fair and independent committee since the MPS had already condemned the ministers.

The court has however upheld the resolutions by Parliament but added that MPs had no right to order the ministers to step aside pending the investigations. The 5 justices of the Constitutional Court led by Deputy Chief Justice Alice Mpagi Bahigeine ruled that asking the ministers to step aside before investigations was unconstitutional and unfair.

They have however declined to stop the probe which they have given a go ahead.

The allegations against the ministers created a storm in Parliament, with documents tabled on the floor showing that the accused ministers received bribes through foreign banks.

The ministers and the President have however maintained that the accusations are false and meant to tarnish their names.

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