Kasibante runs to Speaker for help after FDC replaces him on COSASE committee

The embattled Rubaga North legislator Moses Kasibante has rushed to the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah, to resolve his impending position as vice chairperson of the committee of commissions and statutory authority.

On Tuesday this week, sources at the deputy speaker’s wing disclosed that Kasibante Rubaga in company of fellow legislator Paul Mwiru (Jinja East) met Jacob Oulanyah requesting him to reinstate him as deputy chairperson COSASE to which he reportedly declined.

Kasibante was trying the office for a second time, having previously brought up the matter with Oulanya’s boss, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga before she became indisposed.

The legislator while speaking to Nile Post Thursday confirmed that he indeed wants to get back to the committee and has met Kadaga over the same.

“Yes, I met the speaker (Kadaga) before she fell sick over the same. It is all in process of having me back on the committee,” Kasibante said on phone.

However, the legislator denied meeting Kadaga’s deputy regarding the same issue.

In Early February, the secretary general of Forum for Democratic Change Nandala Mafabi, wrote to opposition leadership and parliament announcing the replacement of Moses Kasibante with Ibrahim Kasozi ( Makindye East) as the Vice chairperson of COSASE, a move awaiting communication from opposition Chief whip, Ssemujju Nganda.

In December last year, the opposition leadership made changes in COSASE Leadership, replacing Abdu Katuntu with Mubarak Munyagwa, and scramble for the COSASE leadership ensued as Mubarak Munyagwa wanted to take charge of BOU probe in defunct banks to which speaker Rebecca Kadaga opposed.

Paying for lambasting Kadaga?

Sources in Parliament allege that Kasibante’s luck could be against him after the legislator indirectly attacked Kadaga for her decision to extend Abdu Katuntu’s reign as chairman of the committee.

Kasibante in January vowed not to attend any sittings by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises until Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu quits.

Katuntu’s term of office expired on January 13, however, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca kadaga proposed an extension to end of February to allow the committee complete the probe into Bank of Uganda.

Kadaga’s proposal was however been greeted with criticism and opposition with many insisting that both the speaker and Katuntu are playing on the wrong side of the law. Among those against the speaker’s proposal was Kasibante who claimed any meeting convened by the Katuntu led COSASE is ‘illegal’.

“As for now COSASE cannot convene any meaningful meeting until the new leadership and membership of the same committee is designated in plenary. Their tenure expired and until there is designation, I don’t want to be part of it,” Kasibante said.

“I have to be clear on this. I can not attend any other committee called COSASE.”

Kadaga would later hold a crisis meeting with the Leader of Opposition Betty Aol Ochan and the parliamentary commission regarding COSASE committee and it is alleged that moment could have sealed Kasibante’s fate.