-Caveat Lector- Ugandan Parliament Halts Privatisation Process Reuters 22-DEC-98 KAMPALA, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Uganda's parliament has voted to suspend the sale of public enterprises until the government amends privatisation laws to reduce corruption. The vote came on Monday and is an extension of a ban imposed by parliament in August over allegations of rampant graft. The vote followed two weeks of debate on a parliamentary report which said the privatisation process was riddled with corruption and called for the dismissal of four ministers. Privatisation Minister Matthew Rukikaire resigned last week to take responsibility for the problems in his department. Parliament had called for the resignation of three other ministers but on Monday softened its stand. Instead, it has forwarded to the president a motion of censure against just one other, Plannning and Investment Minister Sam Kutesa. Parliament also said it wanted a halt to the illegal sale of a 49 percent stake in state-controlled Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB). Major-General Caleb Akandwanaho, known as Salim Saleh, has admitted buying the 49 percent stake in UCB from Malaysian firm Westmont Land Bhd , in breach of a contract in which Westmont bought the stake from the government. Saleh, Museveni's younger brother, resigned his government post as presidential military adviser after his admission. MPs recommended that Saleh be charged in court and that money which UCB lent him and his associates be recovered. World Bank economist Robert Blake said genuine concerns had been raised about the management of the privatisation process but added he had hoped these would be addressed without halting the process. "The privatisation process is moving into areas involving the big parastatals," he told Reuters in the capital Kampala. "These parastatals pose the largest cost on the economy and it would be unfortunate if the process was halted." State utilities due for sale include Uganda Electricity Board, Uganda Telecommunications Ltd and Uganda Railways. Earlier this month, foreign donors pledged $2.2 billion to Uganda in budget and project support, conditional on a greater will to fight official corruption. The privatisation process started in 1992 and has seen the sale of 87 of the targeted 105 public enterprises and parastatals. It is at the centre of Uganda's economic reform programme which has seen an average economic growth rate of six percent in the last decade. ((Nairobi newsroom, +254 2 330261/2 fax +254 2 338860, nairobi.newsroomreuters.com)) Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited.All rights reserved. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
