Kadaga became a leader through hard work not witchcraft- Parliament

Parliament has defended the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga over claims that she used witchcraft to get political prominence.

Damiano Akuze, a witch doctor from Kamuli early this week sued Kadaga for sh200 million owed to him over services to the speaker in 1990 that allegedly enabled her get prominence.

However, in statement released on Friday, the clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige described the allegations as defamatory explaining that by 1990, Kadaga was already a member of parliament.

“Therefore, the claim that she approached Mr.Akuze in September 1990 to make her a leader which she already was, is wrong. The claim that she didn’t have money to pay for the alleged services is laughable,” reads in part the statement by the clerk to parliament.

In his suit filed before the High Court in Jinja on January 28, Akuze contends that he was approached by Kadaga on September 1, 1990 at his shrine in Buwala, Buganda Zone, Lyambuzi parish in Kamuli district to seek his services to help her attain a successful political career.

“The defendant requested the plaintiff (traditional healer) to work on her so that she would be given a big job in government and also be driven in a convoy like a president. The defendant did not have money to pay the plaintiff at the time. So the plaintiff accepted to work on her on condition that she would pay as soon as she got the job,” reads in part the suit.

The alleged witch doctor also claims that he ‘worked on’ Kadaga for two nights and later Kadaga was appointed a minister by President Museveni.

However, parliament in the statement described the allegations by Akuze as being comical intended to tarnish Kadaga’s name and reputation in the public domain.

“Akuze's claim that he catapulted her to the post of Minister within a flash should be treated with contempt it deserves. The implication of Akuze's claim is that he bewitched the entire Parliament, the Presidency and the whole country to elect Ms Kadaga as Speaker. We hope and pray that Akuze's comical and fraudulent allegations will be dismissed by court.”

The clerk to Parliament defended Kadaga as a vanguard in the fight for good governance, rights of the weak and poor, and the emancipation of the girl-child on the national and international stage, adding that she will never waver down on these values.

"Any sober minded person can discern the malice aforethought that is embedded in this mischief by her detractors. She has got to her current station in life through hard work and a God-given talent of harnessing the good in others. We appeal to all Ugandans to work towards building a more just society," the statement added.