After over two weeks of impasse, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga and the Leader of Opposition, Betty Ochan have resolved to let Bugweri County MP, Abdu Katuntu remain as the Chair of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) until February 15.
The resolution that came out of a closed-door meeting between the Speaker, the LOP and other concerned parties on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Week makes Katuntu the first Committee Chairman in the history of Parliament to ever get a term extension.
COSASE which is currently investigating the how Bank of Uganda closed and sold seven commercial banks under irregular circumstances had come to a standstill after the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) – the majority opposition party in the House made a reshuffle that replaced Katuntu with Kawempe South MP, Mubarak Munyagwa and Moses Kasibante as his deputy.
The new appointees however could not take office since the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure read that Committee Chairpersons have to serve their whole term (two and a half years).
Although the term for Katuntu and his deputy, Bukedea MP Anita Among expired on January 13, the Speaker insisted that the duo is given one month’s extension to finalise their investigation into BoU and submit a report to Parliament.
When contacted for a comment, Ochan confirmed the meeting with the Speaker but declined to divulge any details saying that Kadaga will address the House when plenary resumes.
“We have dialogued and the Speaker will make a pronouncement herself. We have explored a lot of options in dealing with the issue at stake and the best option shall be announced by the Speaker in plenary,” Ochan said.