Amama praises Rugunda

PARLIAMENT.
Outgoing Premier Amama Mbabazi yesterday revealed that his incoming replacement escaped death at the hands of forces serving under Idi Amin in 1973.
Speaking after Dr Ruhakana Rugunda was approved by Parliament, Mr Mbabazi drew from memories of their days together in the struggle to oust the Amin dictatorship, right through the 1981-86 bush war.

Mr Mbabazi, who revealed that his relationship with his successor spans 56 years, explained that Dr Rugunda was the link between the forces fighting Amin in the 1970’s and Mr Museveni who was in exile at the time.
“When dictatorship came to Uganda in 1971, we opposed that dictatorship and Dr Rugunda actually led that struggle. When the armed struggle started, he was the direct link between us and the leader of our struggle then, Yoweri Museveni, who lived outside and linked through Rugunda and others,” Mr Mbabazi said.

In his maiden address to Parliament since he was sacked as Premier, Mr Mbabazi referred to the President as “Yoweri Museveni”.
Dr Rugunda later acknowledged that the history his predecessor had alluded to was right and promised to tackle graft in public offices.

His approval was, however, not entirely without challenge. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga was forced to first dispose of a petition from the National Consultative Council which had alleged abuse by Dr Rugunda who, as Premier, will chair this inter-party forum. When his approval was finally put to vote, four Opposition MPs opposed the motion, four others abstained while 217 MPs supported his approval.