Why don't these idiots come out with bold faces and tell us, "I am an idiot
NRA/M"?
, so much for so called "commission of inquiry"! Some punks really.
Well,
Ocii
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Otafiire answers Museveni ALEX B. ATUHAIRE KAMPALA
LOCAL Government Minister Kahinda Otafiire has answered President Yoweri
Museveni's demand to know "who started the practice of local governments
selling markets to private individuals".
In an interview with Daily Monitor yesterday, Maj Gen Otafiire also revealed
what had made him skip the National Resistance Movement (NRM) caucus retreat
that ends today at Kyankwanzi in the face of increasing tabloid reports that
the fiery minister had fallen out with the President over the sale of Kampala
City Council markets, among other things.
Gen Otafiire also denied reports that he had held meetings with Dr Kizza
Besigye, the Forum for Democratic Change president together, former East
African Community secretary general Amanya Mushega and Rujumbura MP Jim
Muhwezi, in which they plotted against the government.
Referring to reports of such a meeting as "utter, absolute rubbish, that should
be treated as "pit latrine stuff" the fiery minister went off; - "I may be old,
but I am not stupid," he said adding, "I am a senior intelligence officer in
this government. Do you think I would hold a meeting to subvert the government
that I am serving and hold it in my house?" he asked.
"They are saying that I am anti-government but I am [actually] government!
Everything that is being done by this government, whether right or wrong, I
take responsibility," Gen Otafiire said.
He said he could not complain about anything as long as he has not resigned.
"If I want anything I want to say about NRM whether for or against, I say it in
the caucus or in NRM meetings and if I have any issue with the President; I
raise it with him straight without fear," he said.
Gen Otafiire said he had skipped the NRM meeting in Kyankwanzi because he had
to attend to a sick child.
"As many people know, I am single parent and one of my kids is sick. Should I
abandon my kids just because some papers are going to print rubbish that -
Otafiire has skipped the Kyankwanzi meeting?" the minister said while
commissioning a commission of inquiry into the mismanagement of public affairs
in Mbale Municipality, at the ministry headquarters.
Gen Otafiire lost his wife two months ago.
On the issue of markets, Gen Otafiire said his ministry had given a substantial
reply to President Museveni's April 19 letter titled "Fraudulent sale of
Nateete Market to Hassan Basajjabalaba" - in which the President demanded to
know why markets belonging to KCC were being sold to private individuals.
Of recent Gen Otafiire has come under criticism for his role in the sale of
city plots and markets to various business personalities.
"The selling of these markets was started during the [mayoral] regime of [Mr
Kizito] Ssebaana for the sake of developing these markets," said the minister
said.
"What was not in place then was the policy of selling the markets but we have
since developed a policy which the government will soon announce and this will
guide in the development of markets in urban areas as well as the countryside."
President Museveni's letter came in the wake of the sale of Nakasero market in
which the vendors are reportedly opposed to the market being sold to city
businessman Hassan Bassajjabalaba.
Maj. Gen. Otafiire said yesterday Mr Bassajjabalaba had not bought Nateete
market as stated in Mr Museveni's letter.
He also said President Museveni had not allocated Nakasero market to the
vendors contrary to media reports over the weekend.
"I never attended that meeting but from what I have heard, the President never
gave away Nakasero market as alleged by certain people for he is aware of
intricate legal issues unresolved," Gen Otafiire said.
President Museveni on Friday reportedly reversed the decision to sell the
market to Bassajjabalaba and directed that the vendors be given the opportunity
to redevelop the market.
In an earlier interview on Saturday Gen Otafiire said he was not interested in
whoever developed the market so long as KCC does not lose revenue, the vendors
are satisfied and as long as the deal was legally satisfactory.
"And when I talk about vendors, I am talking about the real stall owners but
not these fellows who are stealing people's car side mirrors in Nakasero," the
minister said during a two-hour interview at his home in Mbuya.
The full interview in which Gen Otafiire talks about the controversies
surrounding the sale of markets in Kampala, sale of KCC plots in Lugogo and
Centenary Park, the Kampala Central Division Commission of Inquiry and the
current trial of former Health Minister Jim Muhwezi.
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