We won’t support wrong policies, NRM rebels vow
Sep 24, 2011
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) vocal Members of Parliament have vowed not support the party’s bad policies, just because they are party members.
By Mary Karugaba
and Alfred Wandera
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) vocal Members of Parliament have vowed not support the party’s bad policies, just because they are party members.
President Museveni, while rallying support for Patience Mubangizi, the NRM flag-bearer in the Entebbe Municipality by-election on Tuesday, accused NRM party legislators of siding with the opposition to frustrate the Government programmes. The President said such MPs “will be expelled from the party.â€
The NRM MPs, known for their outspoken resistance to some NRM policies and statements, replied saying they would not be intimidated. The MPs said they were elected by the people and not “party individuals who want us to say what they want to hear.â€
MP Cerinah Nebanda (Butaleja Woman) said MPs were elected to speak about the ills in society and not to support wrong issues.
“When we came to Parliament, we came to represent our people’s issues. We cannot stand and support wrong issues such as Mabira give away and the Bill on denying demonstrators bail.
I will not accept that. NRM party is not for an individual,†she said. “Rather than threaten to expel us from the party, the President should address the problems that are affecting Ugandans.
MP Henry Musasizi (Kabale Municipality) said the President has powers to expel members from the Party, but not in Parliament.
“An MP is supposed to think and give independent views. This is a Ugandan parliament and not NRM Parliament. We shall continue to support good and not bad things,†he said.
MPs Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Wilfred Nuwagaba (Ndorwa East), Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) and Vincent Kyamadidi (Rwampara) jointly addressed a press conference at Parliament where they issued scathing attacks at the President, saying they were ready to pay the price.
Nsereko said the threats were “cheap politics that is meant to derail this country.â€
He emphasized that MPs were sent by their voters to Parliament to represent them because they knew “we are intelligent enough to do so.â€
At the same press conference, MPs announced they were planning to sponsor a private members Bill to seek constitutional amendment to re-introduce presidential term limits, change the minimum age limit for one to contest for presidency from 35 to 30 and maximum from 75 to 65.
However, NRM Caucus deputy chairman, David Bahati (Ndorwa West) advised that while it is a duty of MPs to play the oversight role over the executive, members should first bring their good ideas for the stability of Uganda in the caucus for debate.
and Alfred Wandera
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) vocal Members of Parliament have vowed not support the party’s bad policies, just because they are party members.
President Museveni, while rallying support for Patience Mubangizi, the NRM flag-bearer in the Entebbe Municipality by-election on Tuesday, accused NRM party legislators of siding with the opposition to frustrate the Government programmes. The President said such MPs “will be expelled from the party.â€
The NRM MPs, known for their outspoken resistance to some NRM policies and statements, replied saying they would not be intimidated. The MPs said they were elected by the people and not “party individuals who want us to say what they want to hear.â€
MP Cerinah Nebanda (Butaleja Woman) said MPs were elected to speak about the ills in society and not to support wrong issues.
“When we came to Parliament, we came to represent our people’s issues. We cannot stand and support wrong issues such as Mabira give away and the Bill on denying demonstrators bail.
I will not accept that. NRM party is not for an individual,†she said. “Rather than threaten to expel us from the party, the President should address the problems that are affecting Ugandans.
MP Henry Musasizi (Kabale Municipality) said the President has powers to expel members from the Party, but not in Parliament.
“An MP is supposed to think and give independent views. This is a Ugandan parliament and not NRM Parliament. We shall continue to support good and not bad things,†he said.
MPs Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Wilfred Nuwagaba (Ndorwa East), Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) and Vincent Kyamadidi (Rwampara) jointly addressed a press conference at Parliament where they issued scathing attacks at the President, saying they were ready to pay the price.
Nsereko said the threats were “cheap politics that is meant to derail this country.â€
He emphasized that MPs were sent by their voters to Parliament to represent them because they knew “we are intelligent enough to do so.â€
At the same press conference, MPs announced they were planning to sponsor a private members Bill to seek constitutional amendment to re-introduce presidential term limits, change the minimum age limit for one to contest for presidency from 35 to 30 and maximum from 75 to 65.
However, NRM Caucus deputy chairman, David Bahati (Ndorwa West) advised that while it is a duty of MPs to play the oversight role over the executive, members should first bring their good ideas for the stability of Uganda in the caucus for debate.