Parliament appoints energy probe team

Seven lawmakers were last evening selected for the parliamentary ad hoc committee to investigate suspected wrongdoing in constructing Rukarara Hydro Power Plant as well as Mutobo Water Project. The team which starts its work today is headed by Evode Kalima, the deputy chairperson of the standing committee on public accounts, who is deputized by Aurelie Gahongayire. Other members are Charles Kamanda, Theobald Mporanyi, Emmanuel Gatera, Liberatha Mukarindiro, and Fortunee Nyiramadirida. “I welcome this task as it is part of my duties, especially as a member of the committee on public accounts, which digs out and analyses the way public finances are used,” said Kalima. After announcing the names, Speaker Rose Mukantabana reminded the members that they had 30 days, effective today, to accomplish their mission. The team can request for more time if by the end of the 30 days, it has not wrapped up its investigations. It will also investigate the Ministry of Infrastructure and other departments concerned with the projects, as well as the role of the Ministry of Finance. The probe team comes after Parliament on Wednesday unanimously concluded that explanations by the executive regarding suspected failures in the country’s energy and water sectors were not entirely satisfying. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Minister of Infrastructure, Albert Nsengiyumva, and the State Minister for Energy and Water, Emma Francoise Isumbingabo, appeared before Parliament to answer questions related to various issues in the energy and water sectors.. Ends

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Parliament appoints energy probe team