Opposition faces harder times after Chogm, Queen’s visit

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Why MPs rejected motion on Somalia deployment

Did you know that NRM MPs are nationalistic? Well, these days nationalism means getting something from the state coffers for yourself. In that regard, NRM MPs are the most nationalistic.

On Wednesday, they refused to be stampeded to suspend rules of procedure to allow Defence Minister table a motion seeking deployment of Ugandan troops in Somalia.
While others say their action showed the level of internal democracy in the ruling party, Grapevine operatives in Cabinet report that the MPs were simply demonstrating their bitterness against the executive.

Reason? That Mzee Museveni rang from Ethiopia where he had gone on a visit, instructing Ministry of Finance not to release any money for the MPs’ cars until he was back in the country.

Because of his phone call, the issue of the MPs cars was not tabled in the House and was removed from the order paper. We hear that Mzee said he needed to meet the commissioners of parliament to help them determine how the car cash would be distributed. This annoyed the legislators and in retaliation, they explicitly rejected the Minister of Defence’s motion on Somalia deployment.

“We shall also not approve any budget for State House in June if the President does not change his ways. He takes a lot of money but he doesn’t want MPs to get money for cars,� said a senior NRM official. There you are. This is a man-eat-man society.

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