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LET’s STRIKE NOW: Local government minister Bidandi addressing reporters in Kampala yesterday
By Alfred Wasike
The time has come to begin debate on President Yoweri Museveni’s succession, local government minister Bidandi Ssali said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference in Kampala, Bidandi said, “We should debate the succession of President Yoweri Museveni so that we can have a peaceful transition as we prepare for the elections in 2006.
“We cannot shy away from it. It is very healthy and good for the Movement for us to start now. My position has not changed.”
Bidandi, a veteran politician, has in the past called for such debate. Yesterday, he was addressing the weekly President’s Office media briefing moderated by information minister Basoga Nsadhu.
“After I raised that call sometime back, I was invited to Kyankwanzi for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Movement. A special committee was set up to look into the future of the Movement.
“I have been reliably informed that they finished their work and will hand over their report to the Movement Chairman (President Museveni) next week,” he said.
Bidandi is a founder member and de facto leader of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), the precursor to the National Resistance Movement.
Bidandi, who cut his university studies abroad in the late 1950s and returned home to join politics, stressed, “I am a democrat. I love my country. I have a choice to defy the NEC decision that a leader should desist from discussing the issue of succession till that committee finishes its work. I respected that decision but the time has come for us to talk about this thing.”
“The Movement is at the high tide at the moment. We should take advantage of our popularity to position the Movement as a party to compete with other parties.
“I can assure you that we shall beat them. We should do this for the sake of our national unity,” Bidandi said while he did the thumbs-up signal characteristic of the Movement campaign during President Museveni's 2001 re-election bid.
Clad in a
n open neck, short sleeved beige and brown-striped shirt, Bidandi said, “I joined politics on principles that I define as ideals for my country. My eyes are fixed on those ideals. I see a period ahead of us that requires that we must make moves right now. That time is going to require a lot of thought and care if we must maintain and enhance the achievements we have made.”
“I believe in peaceful change. I have discussed my views with President Museveni and other Movement leaders. We may have different approaches but one thing binds us together, that we love our country and that we want the best for it. This is the democracy we have built so painstakingly so far. We can’t let it get derailed,” he warned.
Bidandi also insisted that the Owino and Nakasero market tenders must be cancelled.
The deal was awarded to companies owned by city tycoon Hassan Bassajjabalaba. He said he was considering setting up a commission of inquiry into the tenders said to have been fraught with corruption.
He said he had not been informed about the fate of Gordon Mwesigye, the suspended Kampala Town Clerk. He said, “I am not changing my position on that too. I am considering an inquiry into the whole thing. The matter is now with the Attorney General. I will abide by the decision of the courts.”
“I suspected something was wrong when I found out that the companies that had bid for the two markets were not registered. I became more suspicious when I received a letter from the chairman of the Kampala District Tender Board (Joje W.B. Waddimba), complaining about undue influence, underhand practices and favouritism in the tendering process,” he said.
“I invoked the Local Governments Financial and Accounting Regulations of 1998 that empower the Minister of Local Government to intervene in situations where I suspect that the local government might get into financial crisis,” he said. “While Nakasero Market is 100% KCC’s, we must respect the poor stakeholders in Owino. They don’t have security of owne
rship. They are very bitter,” he said.
Ends
Published on: Saturday, 7th December, 2002 |
