By Felix Basiime
Jan 2, 2004
MBARARA â Mr Eriya Kategaya has said talks aimed at reconciling him with President Museveni will not achieve much.
He said he has always talked with Museveni and more recently in Soroti and nothing materialised.
âIâve already talked to him and I want to tell you that I was sacked for talking and Iâll continue talking,â the former first deputy premier and minister of Internal Affairs said on Wednesday.
Kategaya, also a former MP for Rwampara, was speaking at a party organised by his constituents at Nyeihanga trading centre to bid him farewell and to welcome him to Itojo where he built his country home.
About 20 MPs attended the party.
Kategaya said there is no right and wrong forum to talk to people.
âThey [Movement] say, you [Kategaya] are talking in a wrong forum; whichâs the right forum? If I canât talk to you [Rwampara people] from here where will I find you?â Kategaya said.
Kategaya, who is a childhood friend and a long time political ally of Museveni, provoked an outburst from the President when he publicly said last week that he would support a rival to him [Museveni] should he run in the 2006 election.
Several MPs voiced their strong support on Wednesday for Kategayaâs stand.
East African MP Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu urged people in Rwampara to pray that the current political tensions cool.
âPray very hard, if things are solved, we shall thank GodÂâ he said.
Mr Jomo Mugabi, the LC-III chairman for Nyakayojo sub-county had earlier urged the people of Ankole to pray that Kategaya and Museveni reconcile.
âI urge Catholics to go to [Archbishop of Mbarara Paul] Bakyenga, Anglicans go to [Anglican Bishop of Ankole Diocese Elisha] Kyamugambi and a Muslim will see [Mbarara Chief Khadi] Sheikh [Abdunoor] Kadhuyu so that reconciliation between the two takes off.â
 2003 The Monitor Publications
