Museveni, Obote, Amin honoured

KAMPALA

Parliament on Friday brought the past into the present in a historic debate that sought exclusively to honour the past legislators and leaders ahead of the independence golden jubilee celebrations on October 9.

In a special sitting of the House, legislators across the political spectrum asked the current leaders to bury the hatchet, re-write history and look at the bigger picture —how to take Uganda at 50 forward.

“For the last 50 years, Uganda has not had a peaceful power transition,” Sam Simbwa (NRM, Makindye East) said, adding: “Even when President Museveni came, he has been handing over to himself for the last 26 years. We want to see President Museveni going to Kololo to handle over power to an in-coming leader. Looking ahead, this should be our focus for our people to enjoy true democracy.”

The motion to honour the past leaders in Parliament from Legislative Council (LEGICO) to 8th Parliament was moved by Commissioner Emmanuel Dombo and seconded by Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal, who in her submission called for national unity.

“Everybody has laid a brick to build this country called Uganda. Our history is sweet and sour. I know this military man called Kaguta Museveni because we worked together on the common man’s charter. I have refused to associate with any leader with a gun,” Ms Ogwal said.

Making her case against federalism, Ms Ogwal told the House: “Any Muganda who will bring any motion on federalism, I will shoot it.” She said when she brought the motion; it was shot down by a Muganda legislator. But Lubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi said federalism would heal the wounds of the country and ensure good governance.

The lawmakers used this debate to remind President Museveni’s government to curb the rampant corruption, poverty, unemployment, ensure rule of law, stop harassing the opposition, strengthen the economy and reform the electoral laws ahead of the 2016 general elections. “As we celebrate the 50 years of independence, we need to re-write the history of our country, our past leaders have been painted with a lot of negativity and we cannot heal the country like this,” Mr Gilbert Oulanyah (Indep, Kilak), said.

Mr Elijah Okapa (FDC, Kasilo) said the 50 years of independence had been of mixed blessings.
“We have seen wars, we have suffered, we have seen tribalism, we have seen people in the camps. We would want to see the next 50 years Uganda united not scholarships given to a particular region. Otherwise we are sitting on a time bomb. We must fight homosexuality,” Mr Okapa said.

Former Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, DP’s Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere, UPC’s Adoko Nekyon, Alex Waibale who served as the speaker of the National Consultative Council (NCC) from May to December 1980 and the first woman in Legico, Ms Florence Lubega, were among other past legislators who witnessed the debate.

Speaking at the award ceremony held later at the Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, President Museveni challenged MPs to “stop playing games in Parliament, stop fighting any wars” but serve all Ugandans without any favour or ill will.

It is not clear which wars Mr Museveni insinuated in his statements and which games he meant while he addressed a congregation of scores of former Legislators from the First Parliament of Uganda to the current Ninth. “I don’t want to commit blasphemy by comparing Parliament with the burning bush and call it a holy place…no, it’s a precious ground so when you come there always act, work, behave and know you on a precious ground,” he said.

Mr Museveni, who was chief guest and also recipient of the Parliamentary Uganda at 50 awards for his contribution to Ugandan’s legislative activities read from the bible and asked that all MPs remember the burning bush in the Bible, which was considered as a holy ground, before they enter the Parliament.

At the function however a number of dignitaries and former legislative officials were almost forgotten in their hierarchy and President Museveni would chip in and remind the organisers of people like Francis Butagira the chairman of the National Consultative Council from 1979-80- who was almost forgotten on the list. The President, who had initially refused to shake hands, was later force into doing so by Uganda’s second Speaker, Patel Narendra.

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