Members of Parliament yesterday criticised the government for denying them an opportunity to meet with US President George W. Bush.
The American leader arrives at Entebbe tomorrow.
The MPs are also angry that the official statement explaining the visit was delivered to Parliament only at the eleventh hour (yesterday).
"It is a reflection of how the State is being run," said Bugabula South MP, Ms Salaamu Musumba.
She said that the visit has been "personalised" by the presidency.
She said that when former US President Bill Clinton visited Uganda, MPs were "baked" in the sun at Kisowera in Mukono as Clinton visited a local primary school.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Maj. Tom Butime, however, explained that visits by heads of state are handled by the presidency.
Mr Ken Lukyamuzi (Lubaga South) moved a motion compelling the government to let MPs at least shake hands with Bush.
Mr Ogenga Latigo (Agago) was not impressed. He said that MPs should not ridicule themselves by begging to meet Bush.
He said that Lukyamuzi's desperate attempts were borne out of ignorance.
The motion was defeated.
Oyam South MP, Mr Okullo Epak, said that the American leader was more likely to benefit from the visit than Uganda.
He said that America's invasion of Iraq against the wishes of global public opinion had tainted Bush's image.
He said that Bush was now trying to get a human face.
MPs Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West), Peter Mutuluza (Mawokota North) and Kalule Sengo (Gomba) criticised the government for closing the Ugandan airspace to commercial flights during Bush's visit.
The MPs warned that businesses would demand compensation.
Manjiya MP, Mr John Wakikona, caused laughter when he said that because of Bush's visit a lot of money was being spent to clean up Entebbe.
MP Mike Sebalu said that even Kampala City Council had drawn Shs 10 million to prepare for the visit (yet Bush won't come anywhere near Kampala).
