Kampala: What's next for the Chogm report? What is going on? These were the questions in the corridors of Parliament yesterday as it emerged that the findings of the long-awaited inquiry into alleged abuse of more than Shs500 billion meant for the 2007 Commonwealth summit would not be tabled on the floor as had been anticipated. A tense mood pervaded the corridors of Parliament as observers claimed there were hushed behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to prevent the report's tabling.

Indeed, it first appeared on the Order Paper before a revised one indicated it had been relegated to "other business." Public Accounts Committee chairman Nandala Mafabi, who has steered the seven-month investigation, said the Chogm report was "in jeopardy and time was running out to save it."

Asked what was going on, Mr Mafabi said, "I don't know. We were ready to present our report to Parliament today (Tuesday) but we have been blocked by the Speaker through unclear circumstances. The report was on the order paper in the morning and we don't know how it was removed later and put among business to follow."

Mr Mafabi's worries were deepened by the fact that Parliament is preparing to break for recess this week and only returns in June in time to consider the 2010/2011 budget estimates.

The Budadiri West MP warned: "We have given them [Parliament and Executive] two days to allow us to present this report before parliament prorogues and failure to do that we are going to go ahead and release the Chogm report to the public."

Attempting to save the report, Acting Opposition Chief Whip Alice Alaso (Soroti, FDC) begged Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to allow Mr Mafabi table the report but without any success. "The public wants to know what is going on with the Chogm report and it's only fair that the Chairman PAC is allowed to table the report before Parliament goes on recess," Ms Alaso said.

Addressing a news conference after an aborted afternoon session, Ms Kadaga said PAC should first present the report's copy to her, adding that what was included on the day's Order Paper was pending business for last week and that PAC doesn't determine what to include on the order paper. "That Chogm report can wait," she said. "They are not the ones who determine the way I work. I haven't even seen that report myself. Committees should present an advance copy of the report to the Speaker and Clerk and then it is put on the order paper."

Mr Mafabi told reporters at Parliament that a move to block the report was hatched by NRM Chief Whip Daudi Migereko. "Migereko went to the Deputy Speaker and scrapped the Chogm report from the order paper," Mr Mafabi said. "I don't know his interest in this matter because even last night he met NRM MPs on PAC and a decision was taken to delay this report. Their plan is for Parliament to prorogue without tabling the report such that the budget process coincides with its debate in order for those implicated can escape justice," Mr Mafabi added.

But Mr Migereko said NRM MPs on PAC informed him on Monday night that the Chogm report had not been completed. He ruled out claims that the Monday night meeting plotted to create time for a minority report. "I didn't go to the Speaker on this matter. If the Chogm report was not on the order paper, it was not ready. The Speaker and Clerk had not even received copies."

The Head of EU delegation, Ambassador Vincent De Visscher, said the group was watching the process but added that he had personal commitment of the Speaker that the inquiry report would be tabledwithout delays. "I guess the public opinion will be disappointing to hear that the tabling of this long awaited inquiry report has been postponed," ambassador De Visscher said. "My personal opinion is that no one should politicise the outcome of this report but rather focus on facts of corruption so that culprits can be brought to justice without delays," he said.

Keywords: parliament, executive, oversight, corruption, donor aid, Uganda