Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Executive Director Bemanya Twebeza is a lucky man and should at all times worship Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hon Kahinda Otafiire.
Had it not been the man from Mitooma District, Bemanya would now be confined in the thick tall wall on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Bemanya’s woes according to a top Minister who asked not be named began Monday night during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Museveni has on all public functions and private meetings pronounced himself on the fight against corruption.
The President had decisively resolved to punish Bemanya and teach those who intend to engage themselves in bribery.
Accordingly, Museveni learnt of Bemanya’s shenanigans through junior minister of Finance and Economic Planning Hon Evelyn Anite.
Whereas the reports have been doing rounds how she reported him to the President on Monday night, TrumpetNews brings you the reaction of Museveni and how the storm was calmed by one and only Minister Kahinda Otafiire.
Being a political head, Anite needed a technical person as far as Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) matters are concerned.
Bemanya Twebaze is the Registrar General of UTL and the official receiver.
“As a technical person he was supposed to answer queries relating to UTL,” said the Minister.
His submission came after Museveni asked Anite to expound on the progress of UTL and whether her office had acquired investors to take over the ‘defunct’ parastatal.
“Anite instead asked Bemanya to brief cabinet.”
Before he could go far with his ‘lies’, Anite interjected, “Mr President this man is lying to you,” said Anite.
Instead Anite told Museveni how Bemanya had initially planned to takeover UTL using his own firm.
“He even offered me bribes so that I could let him take UTL using his company.”
A visibly irked Museveni opened his eyes wider, looked into Bemanya’s face and asked him to defend himself.
Bemanya who stood up trembling began stammering.
“Is what the Minister just said true?” Museveni again asked.
Realising Museveni was losing his patience, Minister Otafiire stood firmly and told the President that it would be early to conclude basing on Anite’s accusations.
“I am the one who received this man, and therefore I expected Minister Anite to inform me before telling cabinet. I request that we investigate this matter,” Otafiire told Museveni who seemed to have concurred with the proposal.
As you read this, Bemanya is being investigated over corruption related accusations. The said firm that Bemanya was reportedly fronting is still un-named.
In the recently read annual budget, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija told the nation that shs 140 billion had been earmarked for re-investment into UTL while earlier last year, Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi had directed that all government agencies and ministries procure voice and data services from the ailing UTL as part of the dream to get it up.