Connect with us
  • POLITICS

    M7’S Cabinet Is Full Of Brokers, Agents And Quack Foreign Investors – Francis Babu

    Published

    on

    By Jamil Lutakome

    Captain Edward Francis Babu, the former minister for urban development has blasted president Yoweri Museveni’s cabinet saying it’s full of brokers, agents and quack investors.

    The former Kampala Member of Parliament noted that some evil cabinet ministers are acting as brokers and agents to foreign investors which has resulted into a poor economy where unemployment is rampant among Ugandans. Babu also noted that Uganda is now importing more and exporting less.

    This is because serious investors who would have covered those economic gaps have run to other countries like Kenya. “There is no investor who can set up serious investment in any country after paying a bribe to certain government officials,” Babu noted.

    He told Museveni that most of his cabinet ministers are harvesting a lot of money from brokering foreign investors that’s why they fear to also invest using the commission obtain from brokering. He noted that they take their corruption money to other countries especially in Europe.

    He gave an example of AGOA investors, who he said came to Uganda and stole money then flew out back to their home countries with billions in dollars, without helping Ugandans and the Ugandan economy.

    He  pinned government parastatals and departments which intentionally refuse to pay debt money to business owners. He noted that it’s the government which is the biggest consumer of locally produced goods but when time to pay reaches, they are paid last.

    “All local companies are corrupt because of government’s refusal to pay their debts. Government nowadays gets loans from local financial institution where the private investors also get from. These financial institutions raise interest on these loans because of the big customer, the government,” Babu added.

    Babu wondered why the government just looks on and does nothing while serious investors are running away to Kenya and other countries. He added that the other reason why serious investors run away from Uganda is the huge tax burden put on investors especially the local investors. He advised government to reduce the huge administration burden it’s currently putting on the investors and the population.

    “In Uganda, It’s the local investors and the population who cater for all those administrative expenses. From RDC’S, ministers to members of parliament. I wonder which work all those ministers do for Ugandans. Look at those members of parliament, some never speak even a single word in parliament, but I know the president, my party leader, cannot decrease their number because he uses them as his political capital,” he noted.

    Babu was supported by Dr. Fred Muhumuza, a senior economist from Makerere University, who said that the government is using people’s money to do lavish things. He gave an example of the 29 million which was given to every Member of Parliament to go and consult on the age limit bill. Muhumuza predicted that government is now going to use the money which would have been used to cater for other productive things, to pay the legal team that is going to battle opposition legal teams challenging the manner in which some amendments were done during the passing of the age limit bill.

    Comments

    Click to comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    NEWS

    NUP Boss Declares Lukwago A Vampire: Is His Presidential Ambition Set To Cost Bobi Wine In Buganda, Muslim Community Come 2026!…

    Published

    on

    Makindye Division Mayor Ali Mulyanyama (R) and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (L)

    The Makindye Division Mayor Ali Kasirye Mulyanyama, a blue eyed boy to National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) has warned his party members to be very careful with Kampala Lord mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago who he branded a vampire.

    Mulyanyama branded Lukwago a war monger who cannot be at peace but finds pleasure in picking up fights with other people.

    It is at this point that Mulyanyama branded Lukwago a vampire who is always smelling for blood.

    He explained that Lukwago is using these wars to seek popularity from the gullible local people who think that he is fighting for them but in reality, he is looking for personal gains.

    Mulyanyama was commenting on the fresh verbal ongoing fight between Lukwano and Kampala State Minister Joseph Kabuye Kyafatogabye over road construction in the city.

    Kabuye accuses Lukwago of frustrating road construction in the city because he wants to achieve political gains.

    However, Lukwago insists that government officials like Kabuye are undermining the resolutions and proposals of the elected leaders in the city with the mission of placing them in bad light before their voters.

    Political commentator and also the senior presidential advisor on media Joseph Tamale Mirundi recently revealed that Lukwago is going to use his new position as the leader of Katonga Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) faction to achieve his 2026 presidential ambition.

    Mirundi claims that the four presidential candidates Dr. Kizza Besigye is going to make sure that Lukwago, who he mentored politically has plans to stand for presidency come 2026.

    He explained that Lukwago’s presidential candidature will cost Bobi Wine badly in his strong areas of Buganda and among the Muslim community.

    Mirundi added that Lukwago’s candidature is going to bring together the Muslim sects which include; that of Old Kampala led by mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje, Kibuli faction led by Prince Dr. Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu and the Tabliq sect led by Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga.

    “Bobi Wine is gone, the only person who can save him is Buganda King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi or Prince Nakibinge who have the power to convince Lukwago to drop his presidential ambitions otherwise Bobi Wine will bleed,”’ Mirundi said.

    Sources within Katonga camp revealed that very soon, they are going to unveil their political pressure group which is expected to be named ‘One Uganda One Dream’.

    The Katonga group want to use this pressure group as a political motor vehicle come 2026.

    Insiders in NUP that theGrapevine talked to during the course of investigating this story disclosed that Lukwago’s political calculation is to threaten that he is standing for presidency so that he catches the eye of Bobi Wine who will fear splitting the Buganda and Muslim community vote.

    “Lukwago has calculated that because of this fear, Bobi Wine will enter a deal with him which will involve ring fencing his Lord Mayor position so that NUP do not front a candidate in 2026,” the insider said.

    Sources disclosed that once Bobi Wine makes such a decision, Mulyanyama, Kawempe Division mayor Emmanuel Sserunjogi and Kampala city speaker Zahara Luyirika who are competing for the NUP ticket for Lord Mayor slot will be badly affected.

    Sources in the FDC told Grapevine that they are set to front former Makindye East legislator Ibrahim Kasozi.

    National Resistance Movement (NRM) is set to front Kampala Central Division mayor Salim Uhuru.

     

    By Sengooba Alirabaki

    Comments

    Continue Reading

    NATIONAL

    Inside Besigye’s Fresh Plan To Use Bobi Wine, Lukwago Coalition To Put Kampala On Fire By Resurrecting Defiance Campaign To Oust M7…

    Published

    on

    The newly elected interim president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Besigye’s Katonga camp who also doubles as the Kampala city Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago has confirmed that he is going to use the six month period given to him to intensify his battle for change which includes putting an end to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s long rule.

    Lukwago was declared interim president of FDC in the highly contested Extra-Ordinary Delegates Conference summoned by the party national chairperson Wasswa Birigwa.

    In the meeting held at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Katonga road offices,  Patrick Amuriat Oboi the previous president was suspended and he was replaced with Lukwago.

    A resolution was also passed that Amuriat be subjected to investigation on allegation of receiving billions of shillings from President Museveni’s government, funds he used to facilitate his 2021 campaigns.

    Amuriat will be investigated together with the party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi and party treasurer Geoffrey Ekanya on the same allegation.

    However, it should be clear that early this year, FDC party elders committee chaired by Dr. Frank Nabwiso exonerated the accused persons in their report which was trashed by Dr. Besigye and his colleagues.

    In his statement, Lukwago told journalists at Katonga immediately after being declared interim FDC leader that he is going to make sure that he builds links with other political forces of change to make sure that Museveni’s government is overthrown before 2026.

    Highly placed sources in Dr. Besigye’s camp told theGrapevine that Besigye and his team are anxiously waiting for National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine’s decision on the offer they delivered to him to change his political strategy in the fight against Museveni.

    Sources said that Besigye’s team proposed to Bobi Wine that they should join hands and restore defiance campaigns including demonstrations against what they called President Museveni’s bad leadership especially on failing to solve the problem of the bad economy.

    Sources claim that in one of the meetings, Besigye assured Bobi Wine that the political ground is currently very fertile because most Ugandans have already started feeling government’s failure to solve their economic problems in their pockets and many are ready for protests.

    Sources added that Besigye was supposed to meet Bobi Wine immediately after concluding his countrywide political tour but the meeting did not take place because Bobi Wine quickly traveled to Canada to meet his supporters in the diaspora and hold music shows.

    Sources said that after Canada, Bobi Wine is expected to cross to the United States of America and conclude his international political tour in South Africa.

    In all these places, he will make political consultations and music shows.

    A ticket to attend his music show is between $300-$500 dollars and a table is between $1500 and $2000 dollars.

    Bobi Wine’s political assistant and also the Lubaga Division NUP youth leader explained to theGrapevine that the reason why his boss traveled abroad is because he wants to consult them on how to restructure the political struggle against Museveni.

    “Our Principal respects all Ugandans. Those here and abroad and he is very sure that with them, political change is possible here. Those people in the diaspora play a big role especially financially and we saw this in the 2021 presidential campaigns. The Principal values their views,” Katongole said.

    Source added that Bobi Wine travelled with his wife Barbra Itungo Kyagulanyi, party spokesperson and also Nakawa West legislator Joel Ssenyonyi, Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya among others.

    He is expected to meet his international funders and political strategists. Sources further explained that Bobi Wine is expected to base on the advice he will get from his consultations abroad to answer Besigye’s proposal on whether to join his defiance or not.

    Wakiso district woman Member of Parliament Betty Naluyima revealed that once Bobi Wine returns back into the country, the party will release guidelines on the second phase of their tours.

    “The concluded countrywide tour was very successful because we woke up our people and now they know what to do. Police cannot guide us on what to do because it is clear that we have to just inform them about our political programs,” Naluyima said.

    She further revealed that they have started compiling a list of people holding top government offices including those running authorities, agencies and in security to prove the statements Bobi Wine made while in Luwero district that president Museveni’s government promotes and practices tribalism and Nepotism.

    However, sources in Besigye’s camp told theGrapevine that they are ready to join Bobi Wine in his next phase of political campaign especially on defying police’s orders stopping Bobi Wine’s countrywide political tour.

    Senior presidential advisor on media Joseph Tamale Mirundi recently warned security that Bobi Wine, Lukwago and Besigye’s political coalition is going to be very deadly this time.

    He explained that it was not a mistake for Besigye to support Lukwago in his quest to become FDC’s interim leader.

    He added that he wants to test him to examine whether he has learnt the politics of defiance which he has been teaching him.

    He added that because Lukwago wants to prove to his mentor and the entire opposition is determined to lead the fight against Museveni, he is going to be very determined once Bobi Wine accepts to join him, and Kampala will be on fire.

    “Very soon you’re going to hear that Lukwago and Bobi Wine are going to talk to business people in Kisekka market to establish their problems since he is Kampala Lord Mayor and if police stops them, they will use force to get there,” Mirundi said.

    During his tour in Luwero, Bobi Wine mobilized his supporters to use whatever means possible to fight Museveni and overthrow his government.

    Fred Enanga the police spokesperson claims that Bobi Wine and his NUP supporters have been provoking them in their recent countrywide tours because they wanted police to attack them so that they can cause commotion and get news headlines.

    He revealed that police leadership ordered policemen to supervise Bobi Wine’s countrywide political tours but cautioned them to make sure that they don’t fall into Bobi Wine’s trap once provoked.

     

    By Sengooba Alirabaki

    Comments

    Continue Reading

    NEWS

    BBS TV Top Boss To Faceoff With Fired Kabaka Minister For Busiro South MP Seat To Oust NUP’s Matovu…

    Published

    on

    L-R: Dunstan Busuulwa, Ssekabembe and MP Charles Matovu

    Buganda Broadcasting Service (BBS) Chief Operations Officer Dunstan Busulwa is set to faceoff with National Unity Platform’s Charles Matovu the current Busiro South legislator come 2026.

    Busulwa confirmed that he is going to contest for the said parliamentary seat with sources close to him revealing to theGrapevine that he is going to contest on National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.

    In 2016 parliamentary election, Peter Ssematimba defeated Busulwa to win the NRM ticket, Busulwa stood as an independent and was defeated.

    In 2021, he declined to contest even though he was asked by his supporters to stand.

    However, sources close to him told this website that what scared him was Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s NUP political wave which swept the entire Buganda region.

    Sources disclosed that Busulwa’s decision to stand again is as a result of the political base he has built in the constituency using his ‘Amaaso ku Ggwanga’ weekly political talk show on BBS where he hosts panelists including the master of social, political and economic artificial theories Charles Rwomushana.

    Busulwa has also accumulated some money which he hopes will help him during the political campaigns and he is expecting a lot of support from his god mother Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso, the senior presidential advisor on defense and security.

    Busulwa is also a close friend to Buganda premier Charles Peter Mayiga and was nearly set to be deployed to Kabaka’s Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio to host the popular talk show ‘Kiriza oba gana’ and ‘palamenti yaffe’ every Saturday which is currently being hosted by celebrated journalist Meddie Nsereko Ssebuliba.

    Ssebuliba was saved by his godfather Gen. Salim Saleh, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s young brother and also the head of Operation Wealth Creation.

    Busulwa is also expected to use his closeness to president Museveni’s blue eyed girl Hajjat Hadijja Namyalo, the head of the NRM Office of National Chairperson.

    Sources in the constituency told theGrapevine that Busulwa has to be prepared because he is going to face off with owekitiibwa Moses Kiberu Ssekabembe, Kabaka’s former minister in charge of sports and youths.

    Ssekabembe is expected to contest on NUP ticket even though he is said to be in bed with top NRM handlers like Namyalo and has friends in Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s MK Movement.

    Sources confirmed to theGrapevine that the incumbent legislator Matovu has few chances of retaining the said seat and a number of voters are regretting why they voted him because he has done nothing to help his voter since he went to parliament.

    Matovu is also accused of not being in good books with NUP’s principal Bobi Wine and is always having confrontations with Bobi Wine’s barking dogs, the foot soldiers.

    It is not clear whether Ssematimba the proprietor of radio Super is coming back to reclaim his seat after being defeated in 2021.

     

    By Grapevine Reporters

    Comments

    Continue Reading

    like us

    TRENDING

    theGrapevine is a subsidiary of Newco Publications Limited, a Ugandan multimedia group.
    We keep you posted on the latest from Uganda and the World. COPYRIGHT © 2022
    P.O Box 5511, Kampala - Uganda Tel: +256-752 227640 Email: info@thegrapevine.co.ug
    theGrapevine is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)