MP Sabiiti Questions Muhoozi's Promotion
The Monitor (Kampala)
February 23, 2003
Posted to the web February 25, 2003
Robert Muhereza
Kampala
The Member of Parliament for Rukiga County in Kabale Jack Sabiiti has said the recent promotion of President Yoweri Museveni's son Muhoozi Kainerugaba suggests a hidden agenda.
"For an army officer to be promoted from one rank to another, facts like seniority, capacity and technical know-how of such an officer in question must be considered. I don't know whether the president's son qualifies for his promotion from a rank of lieutenant (Muhoozi was a captain -Ed) to major," Sabiiti said.
Mr Sabiiti was on 22 February addressing a press conference at Highland Hotel in Kabale.
"These hurried promotions of the president's son create some suspicion," Mr Sabiiti said.
He said many people don't support a third term for President Museveni.
The MP warned against amending the Constitution to suit the interests of a "few opportunistic politicians".
Mr Sabiiti argued that the longer leaders stay in power, the more corrupt they become.
"President Museveni should leave the seat before the power and people around him corrupt him," Mr Sabiiti said.
He said that even if the Movement became a political party, he would not support President Museveni to head it.
"What hasn't he achieved in the last 20 years that he wishes to achieve after 2006? There are many young Movementists who can lead this nation better after Museveni. Who knew that Uganda would have a better leader than [former president Milton] Obote before Museveni came in?"
Mr Sabiiti said the proposed construction of two international airports in western Uganda is not a priority project for an area still suffering from poverty and disease.
He said government should instead set up at least two manufacturing industries in each district to create employment.
Mr Sabiiti commended President Museveni for his recent proposal to open up the political space to political parties.
He also asked government to account for the recent 23 percent cut from other ministries' budgets in favour of Defence.
He said government should not treat that money as classified expenditure, which is not subject to auditing.
Mr Sabiiti is the vice-chairman of the parliamentary committee on Public Accounts.
"This is public money that has made so many ministries to be at a standstill. The minister of Finance must make accountability for this money and submit it to us," Mr Sabiiti said.
He said that the best way to fight rebels threatening Uganda's security is not to increase the Defence budget but to engage in dialogue.
"It's unfortunate that the president of Uganda believes more in the gun to fight rebels than having dialogue with them. Why doesn't he believe in the police force? The gun is not a solution that can stop rebels from fighting Uganda," he said.
He said former presidents (Idi Amin, Tito Okello Lutwa and Obote) had strong armies but they were still ousted.
"Where are they now? We must learn from the past," Mr Sabiiti advised.
