When a resolute and God-fearing High Court Judge was named Inspector General of Government, hopes were raised that she would rescue the image of an institution that had previously succumbed to political manipulation. But barely four months later, Irene Mulyagonja has been accused of acting under pressure from the executive to go after MPs seen as critical of President Museveni. This accusation was leveled by Kibanda County MP Sam Otada on Wednesday, during proceedings of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee.

Otada claimed Mulyagonja was instructed by Museveni to institute investigations against him, Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) and Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga) over accountability of the Constituency Development Fund.

“I have emphatically learnt that you have been requested by the president to institute investigations against the three of us. Why are you doing this?” Otada asked.

Mulyagonja, appearing before the committee to defend her policy statement for this financial year, denied the allegations. She said she moved on the MPs after receiving complaints from constituents of the above legislators.

“I would like to clarify that I was not instructed by the president but the complaints that led to the investigations came from your constituents,” Mulyagonja answered adding that she was not ready to sweep the matter below the carpet.

However, Otada would not give up. He said he had received information from the inspectorate to back his claim. “You need to know that some of us have relatives in your offices and I have been told so,” he said.

Early this week The Observer reported that Mulyagonja was investigating MPs of the 9th Parliament who had not properly accounted for the CDF. The IGG has formally asked Parliament to submit all the audited documents pertaining to CDF for all MPs.

She has initially blacklisted seven MPs, including, Ssekikubo, Niwagaba and Otada. Niwagaba and Ssekikubo are among a group of NRM MPs tagged ‘rebels’, for their sustained criticism of their party on matters of corruption, service delivery and internal democracy. Recently, Otada, who is independent but NRM-leaning, also joined their group.

“Of all people why is she listing us first and it is very clear that we filed our accountabilities in time,” Niwagaba said.

While Otada’s allegations are yet unproven, MPs on the committee have advised her to ensure she acts independently. “You should know that you are in an office that has in the past been used to persecute individuals. So, you should refrain from heading to that direction,” said Ajur County MP Hamson Obua.

Arguing on the basis of the provisions of Article 227 of the Constitution, the Shadow Attorney General, Abdu Katuntu said she (Mulyagonja) should stick to the constitutional provisions, if she was not to suffer any legal consequences.

“The IGG is obliged under the Constitution to be independent in the performance of the functions and shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority and shall only be responsible to Parliament. But if you don’t do so it would be in breach of the provision,” Katuntu argued.