By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
A Parliamentary Committee of Natural Resources meeting nearly turned chaotic after the Chairman, Emmanuel Otaala blasted a member, Hon. Jimmy Akena of behaving like his father, Milton Obote who was a dictator.
The altercation according to sources at Parliament began when Jimmy Akena while disagreeing with Otaala refused to switch off his microphone even after being ordered to do so.
This happened on Tuesday, 7th November, 2023 when the committee was scrutinizing the contract signed between Government and Vitol (company hired as sole importer of fuel and gas products into Uganda.)
Earlier on, the two had disagreed over attempts by Otaala to block the media from covering Committee proceedings on the scrutiny of the contract over claims that the agreement had confidentiality clauses.
Akena questioned Vitol’s business ethics citing the US$135m the company was fined by US & Brazil Government on bribery allegations.
Otaala then mocked Jimmy Akena (Lira East Division) for behaving like his father (Milton Obote) who was a dictator, after the former First Son refused to switch off his microphone in the heated Committee meeting at Parliament.
Akena is quoted as having told Otaala not to overrule everything and that he should learn to listen to others.
“The point here is very critical, I am going to continue. I am not switching it (microphone) off,” Akena is quoted to have told Otaala in obvious defiance.
From which Otaala retorted,” Your dad was a dictator and that is on record.”
Government is awarding monoploy of fuel import to a company called Vitol.
Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa disclosed that government has already signed an agreement with Vitol Bahrain to monopolize the importation of petroleum products.
