By Enatu Steven
Joshua Okello, a renowned city lawyer in Soroti city as Jokel has dragged Attorney general to high court in Kampala for declaration and orders that corruption claims against the speaker and exorbitant expenditure of parliament should not be discussed in the public.
Under miscellaneous cause number 0051 filed on the 27th March 2024, Okello argues that he filed the matter in good faith and under the public interest in the matter of the human rights enforcement act 2029.
In his affidavit, Okello says that the matter should be left to the Inspectorate of government or an independent commission be appointed to investigate.
He argues that the current trend in Uganda about the #Uganda parliament exhibition on social media that was sparked by the leader of opposition Joel Ssenyonyi demanding for the speaker of parliament to account to the public about her office expenditure and the clerk of parliament which is allocated in the 2024/25 budget is illegal, ultra vires and infringe on her right to privacy.
“The leaders of opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi through social media sites and press conferences tasked the speaker of Parliament Right Hon Anita Annet Among to respond to all corruption allegations of parliament if the institution is to live its vision of a people centered parliament as claimed. The director communication and public affairs Parliament of Uganda Chris Obore immediately disregarded the call by the leader of opposition because parliament does not account to the press. However, a following week, social media accusations loosely called #Uganda parliament exhibition began and this threw the house into public scrutiny especially the office of the speaker” his affidavit reads in part.
According to Okello in his affidavit, this move has irredeemably tarnished the image of the parliament of Uganda and that of the speaker’s office.
He also noted that the ongoing concerns, the tenure and numeration of the office of the speaker don’t have to be discussed in the public eye as this will injure and reduce the integrity of the office of the speaker of parliament of the republic of Uganda.
“The respondent’s action of actions and its servants have or will diminish public confidence in the institution of parliament which is tasked with the constitutional duty of oversight role and appropriation of money to all other sectors of money to all other sectors of government on top of its cardinal role of formulation laws” he states.
In his application, Okello is seeking court declarations that investigation of the respondent’s agents or servants and inquiries into payment made under orders of some of the parliamentary members are ultra vires, illegal and infringe on the right of privacy of privileged information and the independence of parliament.
The declaration that the order of the respondent’s agents to produce generics and personal information regarding transactions on the speaker’s account details and sum paid on such accounts are ultra virse, illegal and infringed on the independence of the office of the speaker and the commissions.
Okello demands court to issue a declaration prohibiting and restraining the respondent’s, his agents or servant from demanding or forcing the speaker of parliament from releasing personal account details of members of the commission of parliament, unspecified payments and the bank account details.
In his application, Okello is also asking court to for a permanent injunction prohibiting the respondent, his agents or servants from demanding for and compelling on speaker of parliament’s office and members of the commission of parliament from releasing to the respondent’s agents account details, clients payment list, clients’ bank account numbers
He also seeks court to award general damages and costs of the application.
The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among continues to draw attention to the allegations of extravagant spending and corruption within the house. In her recent remarks, Among cites the President’s backing which political analysts have criticized as a scapegoat instead of following up on a potentially critical matter.