Weekly news Update
Weekly Observer, 30th September 2004
White Paper
When it comes to taking people by surprise, very few can beat President Museveni. Whether it has to do with his being a veteran of guerrilla warfare, which heavily exploits the element of surprise in its military tactics, only he knows.
Last week, he dropped his latest bombshell via the Cabinet White Paper on the eagerly awaited constitutional changes. Delivered by the combative Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Janat Mukwaya, the White Paper controversially recommended that Parliament be given powers to sack kings who violate the Constitution. The proposal, of course, did not go down well with the monarchists, especially in Buganda. Indeed, the proposal appeared to be a warning shot to Buganda, which has been fighting, unsuccessfully so far, for a federal status (federo).
Museveni has refused to bow to pressure from Buganda Kingdom over the federo issue, indicating that he can do without Mengo’s political support. It would appear he has now decided to go on the offensive, turning up the heat on the Kabaka by hinting that he is not indispensable.
Whatever its calculation, government does not seem to have anticipated the backlash it has generated, especially within its own ranks. Leading the proposal’s pack of critics was State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Tim Lwanga, who asserted that it was never discussed in Cabinet.
The surprise dissenter, however, was State Minister for Luwero, Kiwanuka Ssemakula, who had already fallen out with Mengo for allegedly frustrating their demands for federo. There were reports that many more ministers were against the proposal, but they could not speak out because they feared for their jobs. But Janat Mukwaya has told those who do not agree with the Cabinet position on the issue to resign.
Other proposals in the White Paper include holding presidential, parliamentary and LC-V elections on the same day; MPs deciding on the issue of presidential term limits and political system; legalising dual citizenship and keeping the army in politics.
Politics
Ministers opposed to the government view that Parliament should be given powers to sack kings will be hoping that President Museveni doesn’t reshuffle his Cabinet soon, otherwise they may find themselves out of a job a la Eriya Kategaya.
Talking to the BBC, Museveni confirmed that he sacked the former deputy prime minister and longtime NRM Number Two, along with other ministers opposed to his third term bid, because “they did not maintain internal cohesion within government.” Interpretation: they disagreed with the President in public or, to use his lingua, “in the wrong forum”. It should not surprise anyone, therefore, if Tim Lwanga and company do not find their names on the next Cabinet list.
The one list the newly formed Forum for Democratic Change is not amused about is that of registered political parties. According to FDC, although they filed their papers more than three weeks ago, they are yet to be registered, arousing suspicions that government may intentionally be delaying the process.
According to the Registrar General, however, the only reason FDC hasn’t been registered is because there is no money to verify the authenticity of the signatures filed with the registration papers. FDC is not convinced by this explanation, and has threatened to take government to court if it is not registered within a month of submission of its papers as required by the law.
Business
The National Social Security Fund saga took a new turn when President Museveni suspended the board chairman, Geoffrey Onegi Obel and the Managing Director Leonard Mpuuma. Police sealed off the offices of the fund. The nearly Shs 400 billion that NSSF holds was transferred from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to that of Finance. All this leaves the $255 million Nsimbe and $150 Lubowa housing projects hanging in the balance.
There was better news, however, for another government corporation. The New Vision put up 20 percent of its shares for sale to the public, at Shs 200 per share. The sale will run till November 19, so there is still ample time for you to cut yourself a slice of one of the very few successful government enterprises.
If you shop in Kalerwe Market, you have every reason to smile, as KCC intends to upgrade the market, thanks to a Shs 1 billion fund from the World Bank. Among other improvements, Kalerwe will get a car park and an improved drainage system.
By Kirungi Humphrey
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Musamize
ps: is itn't a pity that in Museveni's cabinet, people fear to to offer alternative views? of what value are these sort of advisers to him and the country?
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Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we.
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