Even before Parliament passes the 2023/2024 financial budget, President Yoweri Museveni’s security handlers have already forwarded to a Belgium company security specifications and features they want installed in the president’s new cars.

President Museveni is set to own new cars in the coming financial year and they have already been budgeted for in the proposed 2023/2024.

The cars will be purchased from Germany and Japan and thereafter shipped to Belgium where a renowned company will fit in security features required by the son of Kaguta.

The Belgian company has for long been working with President Museveni’s security handlers as far as providing the Ugandan leader with bullet and bomb proof vehicles. The current two limousines Museveni has were enhanced with security features by the same company.

In 2012, Museveni purchased Mercedes Benz S600 Pullman Guard when the country was celebrating the golden jubilee since getting independence in 1962.

Museveni is also using other bullet proof Toyota Land Cruisers but they become old and are always in the garage for maintenance.

The president is also going to purchase other escorting cars because many of the ones he is using are too old.

President Museveni considers himself a targeted person by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and he recently apologised to Ugandans who are disturbed by his security when they block the roads and stop them until he passes.

He explained that he fears for his life.

Museveni has been the United States leading partner in the region when it comes to fighting terrorists like Al Shabaab in Somalia and Allied People’s Defence Forces (ADF) in Congo who have links to Al-shabaab.

By Grapevine Reporter

Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Sarah Opendi has today told parliament that Members of Parliament (MPs) are continuously receiving death threats from individuals disguising themselves as ‘Association of tired officers in Uniform Uganda’.

The ‘Tired Officers’ accuse MPs of failing to handle issues concerning their welfare.
Hon. Opendi said that she received threatening messages from an individual who identified himself as Congo Bajo.

“I received a letter on my Parliament email from the association of tired officers. It was a notice of engagement about the formation of the association as a result of Parliament’s failure to recognize their service, through improving their welfare, increasing their pay and work environment,” Opendi said.

Opendi said that the association members claim to include, army officers, teachers, police officers and health workers.

Opendi added that she was given a seven days’ ultimatum to pay the ‘association’ Shs 10 million lest she faces the consequences of failure to comply.

“I am now left with 2 days from the day of the notice. They said they will determine how to handle the matter the way they were trained. They said they know how to pull the trigger and how to give the right medication,” she said.

Opendi revealed that Congo Bajo warned her watch her moves and that she was the next target.

“These are direct threats to my life; the messages were saying that I am the next target, that I should not take their warnings lightly. Yesterday, I reported to the police but in the evening, I received more messages,” she added.

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa said he had received reports about threats to more MPs noting that some threats are related to MPs involvement in the ongoing investigation of the National Council of Sports.

“The one of Sarah Opendi and other MPs is related to the ongoing investigation of National Council for Sports. There are people in sports federations threatening some MPs to go slow on their investigations,” said Tayebwa.

Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa said the police should arrest the culprits since they use registered simcards

Tayebwa condemned the threats to MPs who he said are mandated to play their oversight role.

“I don’t know whether these people know that oversight is the MPs’ role and whether they know the money they are using is appropriated by MPs,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate and apprehend the culprits since they use phones which registered numbers.

“We were told that all non-registered phone numbers were cut off; since Hon. Opendi has brought the number, it means you will know the criminals, or it goes on to say that numbers which are not registered are allowed to operate,” Tayebwa added.

He urged all MPs who have received death threats to report Parliament’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

However, the Minister for Security, Hon. Jim Muhwezi assured MPs of his ministry’s commitment to bring the culprits to book.

“Government is aware of these threats and Sarah Opendi has shared the messages she received from criminals with me. We would like to assure this House and the country that we will get the culprits,” said Muhwezi.

Source: Parliament

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) chairman Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa has insisted that the opposition should have dialogue with President Yoweri Museveni.

Appearing on TV today, Amb. Birigwa revealed that he is among those people in FDC who believe they should have a dialogue with Museveni.

“Anything can happen in Uganda now. We need to transit and we need Museveni to be part of it.”

Amb. Birigwa also revealed that some of their people think that elections are no longer viable and maybe they should take another path while others are saying they need to take part in the elections to stay relevant.

“I am not into politics to be in the Opposition. I entered politics so that we can take power and power must be taken, no one is going to give it to you,” he emphasized.

He further disclosed that the wave of Hon. Kyagulanyi and NUP was formidable at least in Buganda and that for him, wasn’t a bad thing per se if one looked at the overall situation of the Opposition.

He however insisted that, NUP is not as widely recognized like FDC.

He added, “We have more numbers of grassroots supporters than NUP and I can challenge anyone who says otherwise.

“I can’t confirm that we have been infiltrated as FDC but I would be stupid not to think so.”

He also maintained that he doesn’t think the Opposition should be in the Opposition just to be the leader in Parliament but rather Opposition should be working to take power.

Amb. Bigirwa however emphasized that It’s up to NUP to decide how well they have performed as Leaders of Opposition in Parliament.

“They know their people very well and their constituents. It’s NUP and those who elected them to decide how well they have performed.”

He adduced that it is obvious NUP has taken some space in Buganda but he can’t see them in other parts of the country.

He also wondered why they should be looking at 2026, adding that he wants a revolution now because people are tired.

Birigwa divulged, “Why should Besigye be wooed back to Najjankumbi? We agreed as a party that we leave Najjankumbi to concentrate on party building. Dr. Besigye is a party mobilizer in Rukungiri, he officially vacated the party presidency. The way I see us going is in activism and to date, he has lived up to that and he and the People’s Government are recognized by the party (FDC).”

He also maintained that as a country, we cannot have 500 plus Members of Parliament because the amount of money being spent on those people is obnoxious.

By Hope Kalamira