By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Severino Kahinda Otafiire has advised the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and state minister for privatisation Evelyn Anite to trade ‘carefully’ on Uganda Telecom (UTL) matters.
Anite recently got involved in a public spat with Twebaze Bemanya, who was appointed by URSB and the Commercial Court as administrator/receiver of UTL ever since the national telecom suffered financial problems. Anite told parliament that government no longer has access to UTL because of Bemanya’s administration style. She thereafter got involved in squabbles with the deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, who advised her to back off Utl and Bemanya, because she has no powers to fire Bemanya like she had wanted to.
Following the standoff between the government bigwigs over UTL, president Yoweri Museveni summoned minister Otafiire, whom he briefed about how to handle matters pertaining to UTL and its operations. Shortly after meeting president Museveni, Otafiire wrote a letter to the URSB, which he copied to President Yoweri Museveni, the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Minister of Finanance,Planning and Economic Development, Amelia Kyambadde and the Attorney General.
Otafiire’s letter dated July 4, 2019, titled REVAMPING OF UGANDA TELECOM LIMITED (UTL) reads thus;“Reference is made to the above subject.
I have received guidance from H.E the president of the Republic of Uganda on this matter and hereby direct you as follows;
- Uganda Telecom is of strategic importance to the economy and you are required to ensure that it is not liquidated.
- As administrator of the company, you are requested to expedite the process of sourcing a strategic investor.
- You are required to continuously update me on the progress to enable me report to cabinet accordingly.”
It there far goes without saying that Otafiire’s letter now lays to rest all Anite’s ambitions to pursue either Bemanya or any other matters concerning Utl. Watch this space for details about this saga!
