THE UNFORTUNATE THING WITH UGANDA IS THAT PEOPLE ARE BLE TO ADVISE MUSEVENI WHEN LONG OUT OF OFFICE

Disband Cabinet, Kintu Musoke tells Museveni

President Museveni joins ruling party MPs in roasting meat during a retreat in Kyankwanzi. Photo by PPU
By Yasiin Mugerwa, Tabu Butagira & Richard Wanambwa (email the author)

Posted Wednesday, January 18 2012 at 00:00

In Summary

Call for reforms. Former prime minister mourns ‘death’ of NRM’s 10-point programme and says the President should drop the corrupt if he is to stop anti-graft crusaders from finally targeting him.
President Museveni yesterday found himself under more pressure from within his party when a former prime minister asked him to disband the government over mounting concerns about widespread corruption.
Mr Kintu Musoke’s advice was contained in a hard-hitting 12-page presentation on “Managing Internal Party Dynamics for Sustainable Development” at the on-going NRM Parliamentary Caucus retreat in Kyankwanzi.
Sources at Kyankwanzi quoted the former premier warning Mr Museveni that if he does not cleanse his government now since “most of its members are tainted with allegations of corruption”, the opponents of misrule will aim for him.
“Mr President, you should be weary of these censure moves because after the censure movers finish the ministers, they will come for you,” he reportedly said.
“The appointing authority should consider disbanding the cabinet and re-constitute it afresh to get rid of the rotten tomatoes,” a party official quoted from the ex-premier’s 12-page paper.
Earlier, Mr Musoke spoke about what he called Buganda kingdom’s “malignant” demand for federal status and a return of expropriated properties (ebyaffe).
He said since Kabaka Mutebi has openly asked for power-sharing with the central government, the government’s ad hoc committee led by Vice President Edward Sekandi, which was negotiating with Mengo over other demands, should expedite the talks within six months.
“If this matter remains unresolved, it will impact negatively on our politics …,” he said

Corruption, impunity
However, Ms Evelyn Anite, the caucus spokesperson, yesterday said: “The caucus advised the Kabaka to form a political party and join elective politics if he wants to share power with the government. The Constitution is clear on the roles and benefits of the traditional leaders. Our position is that if Kabaka wants to become a President, then, he should compete for power.”
Mr Musoke struck at three core ailments afflicting the NRM: corruption, impunity and lack of ideological direction.
He questioned why Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, who he never recognised, has been allowed to continue serving simultaneously as secretary general of the ruling party yet it had been agreed he relinquishes one of the portfolios.
“I, for one, do not see earthly any reason why one individual in a party of the well-groomed should hold two onerous positions,” he said.
“There must be a distinction between a government and a party. You cannot run a party as a government. The methods of my colleague are not transparent to grow the party. The intrigue in the party is because of his underhand methods of divide and rule. He should resign his position and concentrate on the Prime Minister’s job,” Mr Musoke reportedly said.
Mr Mbabazi last evening responded to the pointed mid-morning presentation, questioning why Mr Musoke did not leave office when “certain allegations” were made against him. He did not specify the allegations.
“When there are allegations against ministers, or anybody, it does not mean they should quit,” Ms Anite said, quoting Mr Mbabazi. “It is better such (an accused) person is given opportunity to defend themselves, and if found guilty, then they can quit.” Senior cabinet members, Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs), Hillary Onek (Internal Affairs) and Mr Mbabazi are facing corruption accusations after documents were tabled in Parliament indicating that they allegedly pocketed billions of shillings in bribes from oil companies.