Disband Cabinet, Kintu Musoke tells Museveni

President Museveni yesterday found himself under more pressure from within his party when a former prime minister asked him to disband the government over mounting concerns about widespread corruption.

Mr Kintu Musoke’s advice was contained in a hard-hitting 12-page presentation on “Managing Internal Party Dynamics for Sustainable Development” at the on-going NRM Parliamentary Caucus retreat in Kyankwanzi.

Sources at Kyankwanzi quoted the former premier warning Mr Museveni that if he does not cleanse his government now since “most of its members are tainted with allegations of corruption”, the opponents of misrule will aim for him.

“Mr President, you should be weary of these censure moves because after the censure movers finish the ministers, they will come for you,” he reportedly said.

“The appointing authority should consider disbanding the cabinet and re-constitute it afresh to get rid of the rotten tomatoes,” a party official quoted from the ex-premier’s 12-page paper.

Earlier, Mr Musoke spoke about what he called Buganda kingdom’s “malignant” demand for federal status and a return of expropriated properties (ebyaffe).

He said since Kabaka Mutebi has openly asked for power-sharing with the central government, the government’s ad hoc committee led by Vice President Edward Sekandi, which was negotiating with Mengo over other demands, should expedite the talks within six months.

“If this matter remains unresolved, it will impact negatively on our politics …,” he said

Corruption, impunity
However, Ms Evelyn Anite, the caucus spokesperson, yesterday said: “The caucus advised the Kabaka to form a political party and join elective politics if he wants to share power with the government. The Constitution is clear on the roles and benefits of the traditional leaders. Our position is that if Kabaka wants to become a President, then, he should compete for power.”

Mr Musoke struck at three core ailments afflicting the NRM: corruption, impunity and lack of ideological direction.

He questioned why Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, who he never recognised, has been allowed to continue serving simultaneously as secretary general of the ruling party yet it had been agreed he relinquishes one of the portfolios.

“I, for one, do not see earthly any reason why one individual in a party of the well-groomed should hold two onerous positions,” he said.

“There must be a distinction between a government and a party. You cannot run a party as a government. The methods of my colleague are not transparent to grow the party. The intrigue in the party is because of his underhand methods of divide and rule. He should resign his position and concentrate on the Prime Minister’s job,” Mr Musoke reportedly said.

Mr Mbabazi last evening responded to the pointed mid-morning presentation, questioning why Mr Musoke did not leave office when “certain allegations” were made against him. He did not specify the allegations.

“When there are allegations against ministers, or anybody, it does not mean they should quit,” Ms Anite said, quoting Mr Mbabazi. “It is better such (an accused) person is given opportunity to defend themselves, and if found guilty, then they can quit.” Senior cabinet members, Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs), Hillary Onek (Internal Affairs) and Mr Mbabazi are facing corruption accusations after documents were tabled in Parliament indicating that they allegedly pocketed billions of shillings in bribes from oil companies.

Other ministers Syda Bbumba and Prof. Khiddu Makubuya are facing censure because of their role in a compensation scandal involving the payment of Shs162.4billion to city businessman, Hassan Basajjabalaba.
While Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut is still being investigated, reportedly alongside 35 other ministers in a scandal involving the abuse of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation property, former Presidency Minister Kabakumba Masiko was recently forced to resign after her private radio station was caught using a government mast.

Where’s the 10-point programme?
According to sources, the President is said to have indicated that he would drop the current Cabinet in accordance with the resolutions of a recent party National Executive Committee meeting. NEC reportedly asked President Museveni to carry out an urgent Cabinet reshuffle to restore public confidence.

To highlight the lack of ideological orientation within NRM, Mr Musoke questioned why the original 10-point programme, later revised to 15, has been abandoned.

“Ever since we came to power 25 years ago, we had the 10-point programme which some of us committed to memory and which gave us some kind of credit because we turned to it in search of direction on any given issue,” he said. “Regrettably, no one talks about these anymore. Where is the 10 or 15-point programme NRM had?”

By press time, Ms Anite told Daily Monitor that members were still locked in a heated debate on the issues raised in the former premier’s paper.

Kintu Musoke

Kintu Musoke (born on August 5, 1938) is a politician, closely associated with President Museveni.

He served as Prime Minister from November 18, 1994 to April 5, 1999. He was succeeded by Prof. Apolo Nsibambi.

He was also Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Minister of State for Security.

He was a CA delegate for Kalungu East Constituency. Mr Musoke was later appointed to head a task force on fighting HIV/Aids in Uganda.

He is a veteran journalist, the founder of Uganda Journalists Association (UJA). Mr Musoke, together with veteran politicians- Bidandi Ssali and Kirundi Kivejinja, also started the Weekly Topic (defunct), a weekly English newspaper that challenged dictatorship in the early 1980s.

He is currently leading the campaign to develop an independent Media Council and is currently a senior presidential advisor on political affairs.

Compiled by Yasiin Mugerwa

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