TOURISM MINISTER CALLS KANYEIHAMBA A FAILURE
Recently returned from attending the World Travel Market in London did Ugandas Minister of Tourism Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu finally speak out on the controversial report of the commission of enquiry, scripted by equally controversial retired Supreme Court justice George Kanyeihamba.
The minister, cited in the report allegedly as a slap in his face by Kanyeihamba for not extending the term of the commission by yet another three months denounced it and stated publicly that he was never heard in regard of his mention in the report nor had the opportunity to comment prior to such mention being included in the report. How can you implicate me without giving me chance to explain my side of the story? What was the basis for implicating and recommending for prosecution against me without a hearing? was the minister quoted to have asked when commenting on media question about the sordid affair, which is further discrediting the substance of the commissions report even in parts where some credible questions have been raised. Prof. Kamuntu then added This is violation of my human rights. Prof. Kanyeihamba should apologise to me publicly for failing to perform, giving a clear indication that the report, which others equally named have already called a piece of trash not worth the paper it is printed on may well be binned if not shredded altogether. Legally competent sources also mentioned to this correspondent that the Inspector General of Government can only act if he receives the report officially from the tourism ministry but the latest comments by the minister clearly indicate that this may never happen now, barring the way for further investigations on that level. Several of those negatively mentioned in the report have in any case already vowed to take the matter to court for alleged slander and character assassination, so there is still another element to play out in coming months.
Kanyeihambas term at the commission was marked by constant demands for facilitation i.e. money and resources, office space and more, which ended him in head on collisions with the ministrys Permanent Secretary, and here too he did not miss the opportunity to lash out too, turning the entire process into not much more than a mockery and exposing it as the kangaroo court it was from the start. Only in Uganda.
