Agaba Ronald Bills

MY LEGISLATOR OF THE WEEK: MWINE MPAKA Over the past couple of weeks, Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama has stood out for the way he has led Parliament’s scrutiny of the digital number plates project: asking difficult questions, pressing for documents and demanding an independent audit. As chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, the Mbarara South Division MP has also led inquiries into Uganda Railways, the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway and recruitment concerns at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. His committee has also questioned KCCA over the approval of Ham Shopping Centre on the Nakivubo Channel and scrutinised stalled road projects. His earlier oversight record includes chairing the NSSF inquiry and investigations into cooperative war-loss compensation funds. For me, his insistence that those entrusted with public responsibilities must explain their decisions deserves recognition. Public money, public assets and the costs imposed on citizens deserve this level of scrutiny. Whether the powers that be will allow these investigations to run their course, and whether our institutions will apply the laws of the land to bring those ultimately found responsible to book, is another matter. That next test belongs to the institutions that must investigate, prosecute and adjudicate. Parliamentary findings must lead to action wherever the evidence warrants it. Mpaka has done his part in demanding answers. The rest of the accountability chain must now do theirs. He is my legislator of the week. Who is yours? #LegislatorOfTheWeek #MwineMpaka #Accountability #CEOEastAfricaMagazine #EastAfricaBusinessNews