 |
|
WATCH OUT! Kiyonga addressing the press
yesterday |
By Okello Jabweli
THE Movement Secretariat has declared
war on political saboteurs bent on misleading the public and tarnishing
the image of the country abroad.
The National Political Commissar,
Dr.Crispus Kiyonga, yesterday told the media that political indiscipline
was hurting Uganda’s medium and long-term development objectives.
Kiyonga, who was addressing a news conference at Nile Hotel
gardens in Kampala, said political indiscipline among leaders was
diverting the national focus from real challenges facing the country and
frightening potential local and foreign investors.
Kiyonga said
politicians who globetrot, asking donor countries to deny Uganda aid and
trade, should be exposed.
“When you go to London, you find them
there. When you go to Washington, you find they have already been there
with a message that Uganda be denied trade opportunities under AGOA
(African Growth and Opportunity Act),” he said.
He said the
saboteurs normally issue demands like, “Don’t allow Uganda to access the
Millennium Challenge Account. You, World Bank, don’t give your money to
Uganda.”
Kiyonga said such indisciplined leaders were causing
unnecessary panic and worry in the population and prompting people to
question the sustainability of Uganda’s stability. He said political
indiscipline was partly responsible for the much-hyped third-term talk.
“You hear (Paul) Ssemogerere (Democratic Party leader) saying
this, (James) Rwanyarare (UPC Presidential Policy Commission chairman)
saying that and President Yoweri Museveni this. One of the reasons people
are saying Museveni should not go is because they have learnt to trust him
and fear the future without him.”
Kiyonga said the public was
beginning to question the credibility of institutions created under the
Constitution for good governance. He said the recent public condemnation
of MPs over their pension scheme should be looked at in this light.
He said other forms of political indiscipline include leaders who
tell lies to mislead the population. He cited the current controversy over
the legality of the Movement, adding that politicians alarming the public
that the Movement system ceased to exist are aware the system is
entrenched in the Constitution and that no court had ever annulled the
Movement Act.
He backed justice minister Janat Mukwaya’s
contention that the country was not facing a constitutional crisis. He
also defended the continued remuneration of Movement directors and staff
as perfectly legal.
He said the expiry of the terms of Movement
political leaders does not affect the employment contracts of directors
and staff of the Secretariat.
Kiyonga said the Movement Secretariat
would interact with journalists on topical issues on a bi-monthly basis.
Top Secretariat leaders, including directors Oguli Oumo, Latigo
Olal and Alice Muwanguzi, attended.
He said the war on political
indiscipline would deal with all leaders regardless of whether they are in
government or in the opposition.
He said other forms of
indiscipline include disobeying the Constitution. He said opposition
leaders opening up branches of unregistered political parties fall in this
category. He supported his point by citing Article 72 of the Constitution
that requires any political organisation or party to resister before
opening up branches.
“The state and specifically the Police will
be absconding in its duty if it allowed this (unregistered parties opening
branches) to happen. I know for sure that some opposition politicians
think they will become heroes if the Police goes after them.”
He
said such leaders wanted to provoke the state into action so that they can
run to their foreign masters, alleging foul play.
Ends |
