Nakifuma Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Kafeero Sekitoleko has threatened to drag his Kilak North counterpart Anthony Akol for libel.
According to Eng Kafeero Sekitoleko, MP Akol recently ‘misled’ Ugandans by imputing that the Nakifuma man ‘dished’ out 27 bags of sugar and one million shillings each to 27 MPs, ostensibly to support his ‘private members bill’ to amend the Constitution, to have the age cap for judges increased. The Nakifuma MP also wants the two-term limit for commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) removed.
On August 23, shortly before departing for the Uganda North America Association (UNAA) convention in Boston, USA, Eng Kafeero allegedly took the 24 National Resistance Movement (NRM) and three opposition MPs including Akol to Mayuge, where he allegedly gave them 25kg bags of sugar that were labeled with a 50kg tag.
According to Akol, the tokens, allegedly from the Parliamentary Food and Security Forum, were supposed to influence the MPs to support Sekitoleko’s bill.
But appearing on a TV talkshow earlier today, Sekitoleko turned his guns against Akol, saying he would drag him to court over the allegations that surround a bill that was first tabled last month before Parliament chaired by Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.
‘I was in Mayuge during the time I am being accused of bribing MPs. I even have evidence,’ he said, adding: ‘Hon Anthony Akol has 48hrs to withdraw his statements or I seek legal redress.’
He added: ‘MP Akol is confusing Ugandans. I’ve never distributed sugar’.
By press time efforts to contact Kilak MP Akol were futile.
The bill tabled by Kafeero Sekitoleko has elicited a lot suspicion from the public, with many saying it is meant to pave the way for the amendment of the Constitution in order to remove the 75 year ‘age limit clause’, purportedly to leverage President Yoweri Museveni.
Currently 72, under the 1995 Constitution Mr Museveni cannot offer himself for president again, unless the law is changed.
