Top Story: Speaker Among Halts COSASE Nakivubo Probe, Sparks Uproar in Parliament
KAMPALA — A decision by Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among to halt a high-profile investigation into the Nakivubo Channel redevelopment has ignited sharp controversy within Parliament, raising questions about due process, transparency, and the separation of powers.
The probe, initially led by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), was abruptly paused after Speaker Among appointed a separate four-member fact-finding team to take over the inquiry. Her decision was revealed by COSASE Chairperson Medard Lubega Sseggona during a tense committee session on August 26, 2025.
The Speaker’s directive, dated August 19, tasked Dan Kimosho, Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, to lead the mission alongside MPs David Kabanda (Kasambya County) and Peter Mugema (Iganga Municipality), among others. This came just days before COSASE began its own investigation into the multi-billion shilling project, raising eyebrows about coordination — or lack thereof — between parliamentary arms.
The decision has since sparked fierce protest from lawmakers. Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi questioned the legality of the Speaker’s unilateral move, citing the failure to consult political party whips in selecting the new team.
Mawokota North MP Hilary Kiyaga cast doubt on the authenticity of the Speaker’s letter, pointing out it was issued during Parliament’s recess — a time when legislative activity is typically paused — and dated before COSASE officially launched its investigation on August 22.
Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana also raised concerns, noting that COSASE had not been officially copied in the Speaker’s letter and questioning whether it was even addressed to the committee leading the probe.
In response, Sseggona stopped short of declaring the Speaker’s directive unlawful but emphasized that COSASE began its work only after the new fact-finding team had been installed. He urged MPs to focus on facts over politics, even as procedural concerns continue to swirl.
The Nakivubo Channel redevelopment — a massive infrastructure project in central Kampala — has long faced scrutiny over transparency, public accountability, and contractor selection, with businessman Hamis Kiggundu among those summoned by COSASE to clarify his role.
As Parliament prepares to resume full operations, the debate over the Speaker’s intervention is far from over, and the fate of the Nakivubo investigation remains uncertain — caught in a tug-of-war between oversight and authority at the highest levels of Uganda’s legislative body.
