Minister insults US diplomats
By Emma Mutaizibwa & Frank Nyakairu
March 16, 2004
Splashes red wine on guests
Walks out on ambassador
KAMPALA - A Cabinet minister stunned guests at a fete thrown by the US embassy
yesterday when she hurled insults and splashed wine on guests.
State minister for Security, Betty Akech, was one of several members of
parliament invited by the US Agency for International Development director in Uganda,
Vicky Moore, to discuss solutions to the war in the north.
The US ambassador, Jimmy Kolker, five Ugandan MPs, and other UN officials
attended the function, which was to be followed by a dinner in honour of Usaid's
assistant administrator for Democracy, Leonard Rogers, who is visiting the country.
However, hell broke loose when the talk about the war in the north got to
minister Akech.
MPs who attended the function told The Monitor that Akech, who had listened
quietly all through, suddenly erupted in anger.
"She confronted Randy Harris, a co-ordinator of Usaid; she said she is a
minister of state for Security, how come America is poking its nose in Ugandan
Affairs," Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto, who attended the function, told The Monitor by
telephone.
He described what followed next: "Akech said, 'you called me here in the
capacity of a minister and as the minister of state for Security you can't give me the
respect I want. I am so disappointed with your stupid argument,' she angrily shouted
on top of her voice."
Akech then reportedly got so infuriated, she upset a glass of red wine she was
holding in one hand while hurling more insults, Otto said, before storming out and
heading for her official car.
Mr Harris followed her out, ostensibly to sort out the misunderstanding, but
this drew more anger from Akech.
"She hurled more insults like 'you sycophantic Americans' as she banged the door
of her vehicle," MP Otto told The Monitor.
MPs apologise
The Ugandan MPs at the function told The Monitor that they had been humiliated
by the minister's outburst.
"If a government minister can behave like that what do you expect of [LRA rebel
leader Joseph] Kony. It is very unfortunate," Otto said.
The MP added that as Secretary General of the Acholi Parliamentary Group, he
would write an apology to the Americans.
Kasilo MP, Elijah Okupa, said he had apologised on behalf of Ugandans.
"I have to take my clothes for dry cleaning," the wine-drenched MP said.
Agago MP Prof. Ogenga Latigo also attended the function and confirmed the
outburst.
"It is true," he told The Monitor, "I was there; she walked out of the place."
Minister Akech has been sparring with donors over the war in the north in the
last three weeks.
She accused them of interfering in Uganda's politics after they defended a
parliamentary resolution declaring a disaster area in the north, after Cabinet had
rejected it.
Neither Akech, nor officials from the US embassy were available to comment on
the incident by press time last night.
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
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"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
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