As the Attorney General (AG) William Byaruhanga and his deputy Hon Mwesigwa Rukutana were preparing to challenge an injunction barring Parliament from probing into the shs 6b oil money, the lead petitioner Eric Sabiiti has withdrawn the application in the Constitutional Court.
Sabiiti a legal officer of the Electoral Commission (EC) independently filed an application in Court saying it was illegal for Parliament to debate this matter in which URA top officials, lawyers and high ranking government officials shared billions as bonus (Akasiimo) after winning an oil case in London against Heritage.
It later emerged that the payment was initiated by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) boss Doris Akol who wrote to President Museveni convincing him how they deserved the ‘handshake.’ After the letters leaked, the public was outraged how a whole Commissioner General would stoop so low and become petty like a street beggar.
Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma upon receiving Eric’s petition issued an interim order blocking any government authority from questioning, inquiring or investigating into the matter.
His injunction was however, labelled as stupid by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga who directed Attorney General Rukutana to rush to Court and vacate the order. She adjourned the House until Court makes its pronouncement.
Electoral Commission top management sat on the same day (Tuesday) and ruled that their lawyer Sabiiti was procedurally wrong and out of order having filed the application without the Commission’s knowledge. EC tasked him to file a defence awaiting a stern action.
It remains unclear whether EC propelled him to retract the petition.
This development implies that Parliament is now at liberty t to debate the motion and summon all the beneficiaries for interrogation.