Mbabazi must answer, Jim Muhwezi insists

Sep 29, 2008

BUJUMBURA MP Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi has said Security minister Amama Mbabazi should face the challenge before him as a man and not hide behind tribal and religious sentiments.

By Milton Olupot and Mary Karugaba

BUJUMBURA MP Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi has said Security minister Amama Mbabazi should face the challenge before him as a man and not hide behind tribal and religious sentiments.

Quoting a Luganda saying, “Guluma yaguzza, enziku teruma Kkundi,” loosely translated as, “Gonorrhea does not affect the umbilical code, but the private parts which are involved in the mischief,” Muhwezi said Mbabazi must face the consequences of his mischief.

Muhwezi and other NRM MPs Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Henry Banyenkazi, Wilfred Niwagaba and Margaret Muhanga yesterday addressed journalists at Parliament and angrily reacted to allegations by Buyaga MP Barnabas Tinkasimire that they were plotting to bring down Mbabazi.

Parliament is investigating Mbabazi and city businessman Amos Nzeyi over the sale of land at Temangalo, Wakiso district at sh11b, which MPs claim was an inflated price.

“My name is being used by Mbabazi and his agents like Tinkasiimire, that I am collecting money to fight him, that it is a war against Bakiga and I am leading it and that it is a personal issue against him. These are all lies intended to divert the NSSF investigation,” stated Muhwezi.

He added: “They are machinations and diversionary tactics to take away the eyes from NSSF and look into other issues. But focus will remain on the issues raised on this deal. We shall continue to see whether as a minister, Mbabazi failed to observe the regulations in procurement of land by a government institution.”

He said the matter was of national interest. “Whether there are political vultures waiting for his carcass or not, is another matter,” he said adding that it had nothing to do with Catholics Vs Protestants or the Bakiga tribe.

“This is a drowning man trying to cling on anything in water. He is now bringing in names of people like Dr. Kiyonga and Gen. Otafiire. It is sad to see a secretary general of such a mature, nationalistic and patriotic party talking about Bakiga. What about Bakoko (former minister Bakoko Bakoru) and Onegi Obel, why didn’t they cry out that they are West Nilers. How about Jamwa (the CEO of NSSF), don’t they have tribes?”

The MPs also accused security organs of trying to influence the outcome of a committee report in favour of Mbabazi. They alleged that External Security Organisation chief Robert Masolo was organising meetings to save Mbabazi.

Muhwezi said Masolo was abusing his office. “I know the duties of security; he can’t be seen to try to compromise. This is jumping the gun and this will not work. I know for sure President Museveni has not sanctioned Masolo. We are going to ask the president to take action against him.”

They accused Tinkasiimire of trying to lure them into meetings with security personnel.

Baryomunsi, Banyenkazi and Niwagaba said Tinkasimiire contacted them individually, adding that he had been sent by Masolo to inform them of a reconcilliation meeting with the President. He reportedly said there would be facilitation (money) in the process.

Masolo denied the accusations, saying that was not part of intelligence work. “I have never met Tinkasiimire. Let those with evidence bring it,” he said.

Tinkasiimire said he went to Baryomunsi’s house to convince him that Mbabazi was being sacrificed. He insisted they had been holding meetings on the issue.

“I don’t belong to any camp but the NRM camp. Not to the Bakiga, catholics or Protestant camps,” Banyenzaki argued.

He said Tinkasiimire called him to meet some security agents but he declined.

“When we talk about reforms, it is not about Mbabazi or Jamwa. It is about principle and how NSSF is managed. If it was about relationship, I should have gone to Mbabazi, my brother, because blood is thicker than water.”

“This is a rumour-monger in the name of Hon. Tinkasiimire. He is being used by Masolo. There is a plot to net MPs and take their photographs as they receive money. They are looking into our bank accounts and talking about clearing our loans,” he said.

Banyenzaki said he could not believe that Tinkasimiire could make such allegations. “If these are his words, then my friend is a psychiatric case.”

Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said Tinkasiimire went to his house appearing restless and sweating. “He told me security officers had analysed that Mbabazi was not being probed over the land sale but he was being pursued politically.

“He told me he had met the ESO Director General and wanted us to meet together with David Bahati, Banyenzaki, Niwagaba, him (Tinkasiimire) and myself to meet the President who would reconcile us with Mbabazi,” he said.

Baryomunsi said he rejected the meeting, saying he had nothing to reconcile over. “Whoever is being investigated should go through it. We should give time to the committee to do its work. Why should we be anxious at the time the probe is going on? I challenge Tinkasiimire to deny that he came to my home,” Baryomunsi said.

Nuwagaba corroborated his colleague’s claims that Tinkasiimire was going around calling for meetings.

Muhanga said anonymous callers had threatened her, accusing her of siding with Muhwezi. She also said bodaboda were trailing her and that on Sunday night, a suspected security agent tried to snatch her bag as she entered her house in Bugolobi, but she fought him off.

Local government minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire said he was not Mbabazi’s enemy.

He described Tinkasiimire as “a lunatic and must be confined to Butabika Hospital for psychiatric patients.”

“Tinkasimire is as mad as all you people of The New Vision. How can you write utterances of a lunatic?” he asked as he laughed loudly.

“That young man is only obsessed with being a Mukiga. I think Mbabazi has given this boy some small money to make noise.”

Otafiire said some MPs were employing diversionary tactics to the issue so that the public loses track.

“NRM should not stoop so low to include religious, tribal and political biases that could be detrimental to the party,” he cautioned.

City businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, a member of the NRM’s Central Executive Committee, also denied plotting Mbabazi’s downfall. He said he did not even know Tinkasimire.

Additional reporting by Josephine Maseruka and Madinah Tebajukira.

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