Parliament to "confiscate" Bagyenda's passports after she skips probe

Abdu Katuntu, the chairperson of the Committee of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered that Justine Bagyenda, the former executive director in charge of supervision deposit her passports with parliament because she had misled the MPs about her travels.

The suggestion came after Bagyenda's lawyer Robert Kirunda handed a letter to the MPs indicating that Bagyenda was still held up in the US where she is attending a mental health conference.

"Bagyenda will have to deposit her passports with parliament. There is a legitimate reason to do so," Katuntu said.

Katuntu said Bagyenda, who owns two passports, will be expected to appear before the committee "without failure" tomorrow, November 28.

It is the second time in five days that Bagyenda is skipping the probe.

Kirunda's letter indicated that Bagyenda may only be available in December.

This infuriated some MPs who argued that Bagyenda's initial letter requesting for person to travel abroad only indicated that she will be out of the country for a couple of days.

"Mr chairman, I have information that she is in Nairobi yet the lawyer says she is in the US. We need to find out where she is," Elijah Okupa, the Kasilo MP argued.

Francis Mwijukye, the MP for Buhweju, said it was high time parliament engaged interpol to apprehend Bagyenda.

"This is contempt of parliament. Bagyenda was under strict instructions to appear before the committee today but she has not. We need to involve interpol," Mwijukye said.

Beatrice Anywar the Kitgum Municipality MP said Bagyenda was taking the committee for a ride. She recommended that all witnesses that are going to appear before the committee should be banned from international travel.