By Jimmy Muhumuza
Parliament
The parliamentary trade committee chaired by Hon. Mwine Mpaka who doubles as Mbarara City South Mp questioned the involvement of lawyers in the compensation saga and how law firms that had no interest in the cooperative business, all of a sudden came to play a central role in the compensation process.
But the most standing question still stands, did these claimants need lawyers?
According to Hon. Mpaka, the implicated MTIC officials and political leaders (MPs) simply set themselves into a trap of suspicion by inviting law firms to participate in the compensation of cooperatives. They were termed as middlemen during cash transactions carried out between MTIC and cooperatives.
“During that inquiry, some current and former Members of Parliament who were implicated for having either directly or indirectly influenced payments to respective cooperatives for war loss compensations, did not fully cooperate with the Committee did not fully cooperate with the Committee in its bid to a certain the veracity of allegations leveled against them,” he said.
He also added that as the committee they recommended that all the aggrieved cooperatives are advised to petition the Law Council to take appropriate action against the law firms and lawyers in personal conduct, for professional misconduct.
“the Government of Uganda should condition any further payments for war loss compensation not to be remitted through law firms or any other third party for that matter as their contribution is and inconsequential in the process which Cleary shows that the layers were not necessary”
How much was given to law firms?
West Mengo Growers Cooperative claimed shs 47.9 billion only shs 14.89 was verified and shs 2 billion was given to M/s Mungoma Justin and company advocates of which the union received a small shs 50 million.
East Acholi Cooperative Union which was forced to hire M/S Odonga Otto and co. Advocates and at some point members of the union refused to work with the said advocate and the law firm instituted a suit against the union for allegedly not complying. The union was forced to pay 1 billion to the law firm.
Mpaka revealed that during their investigation the committee found out that it was the minister of cooperatives Hon Fredrick Ngobi Gume who imposed M/S Odonga Otto and co. Advocates on EACU.
“the committee noted that the conduct of Minister. Gume amounted to influence paddling and abuse of office contrary to section 11 of the anti-corruption act 2009”.
T/AM/s Matovu and Matovu advocates allocated themselves 40% of the total amount for Jinja Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited shs 5.77 billion. This shows the presence of a powerful cartel behind the compensation saga. And when council Matove faced the committee he simply told members that when you’re in Uganda, then you know what am talking about. I am just a senior council, these people are powerful and dangerous .. leave me alone”. He said.
Other law firms that were involved include M/S Kirya and Co. advocates, M/S Makada and parents, M/S Tropical Law Chamber, M/S Ilukor advocates and solicitor M/S Isodo and Advocates and MS/ probate Advocates.
In conclusion, the committee observed that most of the third parties in the compensation process, that received powers of attorney to pursue the compensation funds on behalf of the cooperatives, were imposed onto them by officials from MTIC.
