POLITICS

FDC And All The Other Political Parties Are In IPOD For Museveni’s Money – NUP’s Nambooze…

Published

2 years ago

March 3, 2021

MP Betty Nambooze (L) and MP Ssemujju Nganda

Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament (MP), Betty Nambooze has accused other opposition members for “associating” with President Yoweri Museveni in the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) financial gains.

Nambooze said this on NBS TV’s Barometer show, asserting that those who subscribe to the IPOD have a special financial interest in the cause and not necessarily finding solutions to the problems faced by Ugandans.

Nambooze, who defected to the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, insinuated that all the parties associating with the ruling party for any given cause are Museveni allies.

The IPOD summit meeting is slated for this Friday at Kololo Independence Grounds and it will be hosted by President Museveni.

The summit is the apex body of IPOD and it is composed of the heads of the political parties that constitute IPOD. These include FDC, DP, UPC, JEEMA and NRM.

Friday’s summit, according to its organisers, will among other things review the previous elections and what needs to be done going forward.

However, Nambooze opined that it’s a very inappropriate move for the opposition.

“You can’t take your case to Museveni when he’s the offender. That’s why people no longer go with their cases to police because they know nothing will be done,” Nambooze said.

Nambooze added that FDC, which she claims has maintained its support based on hatred for Museveni, is showing cowardice by shying away from meeting Museveni now.

She was referring to FDC’s decision to excuse themselves from the IPOD summit.

FDC party spokesperson, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, said their party president Amuriat Oboi, who was a victim of state security brutality in the past election, is still so traumatised to meet his “tormentor”, referring to president Museveni.

Democratic Party (DP) president, Norbert Mao however believes in the cause. He’s advocating for dialogue because he believes it might help to at least address some grievances if not all.

“Our biggest problem as the Ugandan opposition is that we’re divided by a common enemy. Opposition parties are being led by individuals who ride on their emotions to reach vital decisions for the very many diverse people they lead,” Mao said.

On the other hand, the NRM National Treasurer, Rosemary Namayanja, said some of the IPOD members don’t have good will. She explained that some members of the opposition wrongly think that it’s their assignment to oppose everything involving the ruling party.

“It is important for the IPOD to sit even if what is discussed is not implemented. It is important for putting the issues on record,” Minister Kiwanda Ssuubi, another senior cadre of the NRM, submitted.

IPOD has been active in Uganda for several years, offering parliamentary parties a common forum for discussions, training, and collaboration. It oversees an inter-party dialogue process which aims to provide a safe space for every parliamentary party – no matter its size – to participate in dialogue as equals. Following this principle of equality, the Chair position of IPOD rotates alphabetically between its members on a 6-monthly basis, ensuring each party gets a chance to shape the IPOD agenda.

This pattern of shared responsibility has allowed IPOD member parties to build trust and take action on issues of the day.

For example, discussions between party leaders in 2019 led to united action on the Public Order Management Act (POMA), a controversial piece of legislation that was seen by opposition parties as a hindrance to their rallies and other legitimate political activities.

By Baron Kironde

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POLITICS

Parliament Commemorates Late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2023

Grapevine Uganda News

Parliament held a special plenary on March 23rd to commemorate the life of fallen speaker emeritus Jacob Oulanyah.

Parliament set aside March 23rd (Oulanyah’s birthday) as a day to remember his life and service to parliament and Uganda at large.

During plenary, minister of ICT Chris Baryomunsi said the late speaker was eloquent, punctual, smart, intelligent and was always there for others.

Minister of health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng also acknowledged that Oulanyah was significant in the growth of Uganda’s health sector. Aceng said the late speaker would spare time and explain to people health issues.

Hon. Lillian Aber (Woman MP Kitgum) said Oulanyah would do the right and was an inspiration. Aber added that Oulanyah always wanted to see each system effective.

Hon Ssemujju Nganda spoke of the late as a very selfless man that always settled disputes with every one.

“I want to thank the late Jacob Oulanyah even when you had trouble with him, he took it upon himself to reach out to you to resolve the matter,” he said.

Speaker Jacob Oulanyah died on March 20th last year and was replaced by Anita Among. Oulanyah served as deputy speaker twice before being voted as speaker of Parliament.

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POLITICS

Commonwealth Lawyers Caution M7 On Dismissal Of Justice Kisakye

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2023

Grapevine Uganda News

Lawyers under the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) have protested the removal of Justice Esther Kisakye from office.

In a written statement by the association, the Commonwealth Lawyers have called upon president Museveni to carefully consider the implications of Justice Kisakye’s dismissal.

The lawyers say that judges should only be subjected to suspension only when they are incapable or if they misbehave.

“Judges should be subject to suspension or removal only for reasons of incapacity or misbehaviour that clearly renders them unfit to discharge their duties,” part of the statement reads.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) last month recommended the removal of Justice Esther Kisakye from office and have her probed over her misconduct and attack on chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo.

Justice Kisakye’s troubles began following the 2021 election petition by National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi in which she gave a dissenting opinion from other judges.

Justice Kisakye in her ruling said Kyagulanyi had not been given enough time to present his case.

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POLITICS

Karamoja Iron Sheets Scandal: Speaker Among Returns 500 Iron Sheets

Published

3 weeks ago

March 15, 2023

Grapevine Uganda News

Speaker of parliament Anita Among has revealed that she has bought 500 iron sheets to compesate those meant for the vulnerable in Karamoja that were misallocated by the minister of Karamoja affairs Hon. Goretti Kitutu.

Among told parliament on March 15th that she bought the iron sheets because she does not want to be accused of grabbing iron sheets that were meant for the vulnerable in Karamoja.

Speaker Anita Among is among the government officials who were cited in the Karamoja iron sheet scandal. Among is reported to have received 500 pieces of iron sheets. However, Among claimed she did not request for the iron sheets but admitted that she saw them in her district Bukedea.

Other government officials that received the iron sheets include vice president Jessica Alupo, minister Rose Akello, Agnes Nandutu, prime minister Robinah Nabbanja, minister Amos Lugolobi, finance minister Matia Kasaija, Minister Maria Goretti Kitutu, government chief whip Denis Obua among others.

The Karamoja iron sheet scandal sparked off when family members of minister Goretti Kitutu were found in possession of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable in Karamoja region. Minister Kitutu told the committee on presidential affairs, during the probe, that she was not guided thus misallocating relief items meant for Karamoja.