REA Bosses, ‘Splash Billions’ On MPs To Kill Probe!

By Henry Mulindwa

Nasty scandals within Rural Electrification Agency (REA) are yet to get extinguished after another alleged scandal has emerged. The agency which has been in the media in a negative way is yet again named in an alleged scheme to water down planned investigations by parliament.The entity is currently appearing in bad light after allegations of stinking corruption and misuse of public funds have been levelled against some of it’s senior staff which even attracted the attention of the president.Because of this alleged gross misuse of public funds, some parliamentarians wanted this entity thoroughly investigated but this is now becoming impossible, if what we got from parliament is the truth.For example, one of the MPs Gideon Onyango coined a motion which was supposed to be seconded by a fellow legislator Paul Akamba seeking for an investigation into REA. The motion was due for tabling before parliament yesterday but alas; it suffered a stillbirth. This situation was brought about after the would be seconder of the motion hon. Akamba allegedly disowned the motion on the last minute alleging that his signature was forged.It has now emerged that Akamba’s actions could have been influenced by a Shs20m bribe that he allegedly recieved to claim that his signature was forged. The motive of this was to kill the motion.According to motion mover Onyango, Hon. Akamba recieved this bribe from fellow MP Anita Among who is also the woman MP for Bukedea district. Not only did Anita allegedly pay Akamba but also went ahead and turned her office into a bank of sorts where several MPs went and got their bribes moments before the motion came to the floor.In his letter chanced on by this newsite, Onyango wrote to the speaker Rebecca Kadaga asking her to use her office to dig into the matter in which this alleged bribery is going to water down the sensitive investigation into the thuggery that is happening in the Rural Electrification Agency.”Madam speaker, it is not true that hon. Akamba’s signature was forged. He signed it himself in presence of other MPs. I have established that hon. Akamba recieved Shs20m from hon. Anita Among who showed up in parliament yesterday to kill the motion by alleging that his signature was forged” he said in a two-page letter dated May 26 2020.He goes on that “the same Among was giving out money to several MPs to get to the house to heckle and obstruct the motion”Onyango is now telling Kadaga that not only these machinations are being done, the same group is now threatening his life with death.”I am not surprised these same people have been threatening my life that I will die in an eastern route accident if I read the motion” he said.Onyango to prove his allegations even implored the speaker to use her powers to cause a review of the video footage of parliament and see for herself the level of traffic by MPs to Anita’s office moments before the motion was to be read on the floor yesterday.”I pray that your office exercises powers to ensure that parliament business is not obstructed by people who do not want to be investigated. Akamba should not be used to kill such a sensitive motion on Rural Electrification Agency” he said.It is not clear if Onyango has this evidence but according to sources, some of the implicated REA bosses have been running up and down seeking to block this investigation. We also learnt that some senior leaders from Bugisu sub-region came up with a resolution they want to present before the president demanding that their son; Werikhe who is also largely named in the REA saga be reinstated. We are told there’s even a plan by these ‘elders’ to storm state house during this COVID-19 situation and camp there in order to mount pressure on Museveni to heed to their demands.Meanwhile, when contacted for a comment on the matter Anita Among described the allegations as ‘nonsense’. She challenged Onyango to table evidence and also threatened to go to Court.
Qn: Hon. Anita, what is this I am hearing that you’re being used to kill the investigation into Rural Electrification Agency?
Anita: That’s just nonsense. Let him (Onyango) prove it. They say he who alleges carries the burden of proof. I don’t know when I last saw Akamba. I think I last saw him in the CPC. Even talking to him (physically). I only called him last week, you get it. So, I don’t know what they are talking about.
Qn: Is it true that your office was turned into a bank of sorts where members came to pick their share?
Anita: I am currently in my village and that’s where I have been all along. Have members been coming all the way to Bukedea? I only came to parliament and when I came there, I just picked my documents (from pigeonhole) and I never even entered my office. That was last week.
Qn. But why is it that among all members, he’s singling you out?Are you against this investigation into REA?Anita: Why would I block that investigation? I support it. If somebody is a criminal; he is a criminal! That is it. If Werikhe did something (wrong), he should be investigated and be brought to book.
Qn: What is it between you and Onyango? Are you nursing a silent battle for him to pin you?
Anita: I don’t think there’s anything between us. Myself I don’t have anything against him. Maybe for him, he has. But I don’t know it. The 20m he is claiming I have not given out this money. I have already gone to court.