Uganda: House clears security, finance ministers over controversial land sale.

Text of report by Henry Mukasa and Catherine Bekunda entitled "House clears Mbabazi, Suruma on NSSF" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 7 November

Parliament yesterday cleared Security Minister Amama Mbabazi, Finance Minister Dr Ezra Suruma and the NSSF [National Social Security Fund] management of any wrongdoing in the purchase of 463 acres of land at Temangalo in Wakiso District [central Uganda].

After an acrimonious debate laced with wrestling of legal and political muscles and a walkout by the opposition MPs, the House presided over by the Speaker Edward Sekandi approved a motion to absolve the ministers and NSSF.

"That ends the debate on the original motion (which sought to punish the ministers and NSSF management)," Sekandi pronounced after the MPs voted that the ministers did not flout any laws.

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