Corridors of power
Sep 10, 2009
<b>Otafiire’s power</b><br>TRADE and industry minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire is indeed a senior minister and a bush war veteran. Such seniority and power was witnessed on Thursday when Otafiire arrived late to a fully-packed plenary chamber, where
Otafiire’s power
TRADE and industry minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire is indeed a senior minister and a bush war veteran. Such seniority and power was witnessed on Thursday when Otafiire arrived late to a fully-packed plenary chamber, where the budget was being discussed. On arrival, Otafiire looked around and realised that his seat had been taken. He walked to health minister Dr. Stephen Mallinga and signalled him to get up, which Mallinga did and Otafiire sat, laughing at his action, together with works minister Eng. John Nasasira. As Mallinga looked elsewhere, minister Asuman Kiyingi came to his rescue. He picked a chair from the back and placed it at the front for Mallinga to sit.
Nsibambi’s ‘voca’
Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, fondly referred to as “lugubrious†for his unending vocabulary, never runs out of new terms to challenge his colleagues in Parliament. When tasked by MPs to give a position on the Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga on Monday, Nsibambi said: “Honourable Speaker and members, we shall come out with an appropriate statement at a propitious time.†This left the MPs wondering what he meant by “ propitious timeâ€.
Kasule unmoved
Dr. Kibirige Ssebunya’s son, Robert Kasule, and Katikamu North MP Eng. Abraham Byandaala, are not moved by sentiment. When Baganda MPs threatened to walk out of the House over lack of a statement on the Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere, the two remained in their seats. And when the MPs finally announced a formal walk-out, the two rejected it. Attempts by Butambala MP Kaddunabbi Lubega to beckon them was met with a rude wave-off by Kasule saying: “Leave me aloneâ€.
Okupa cornered
Kasilo MP Elijah Okupa recently found his loyalty divided between opposition chief whip Kassiano Wadri and Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, who is his good friend. When Kadaga overruled on not passing patriotism money, Wadri ordered his side to walk out of the House. However, Okupa, who was seated directly opposite Kadaga, could not because Kadaga was watching. He only managed to exit when Kadaga was busy scrutinising the budget figures. When Kadaga realised that Okupa had fled, she wondered aloud: “Eeh, where has Hon. Okupa gone?â€
TRADE and industry minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire is indeed a senior minister and a bush war veteran. Such seniority and power was witnessed on Thursday when Otafiire arrived late to a fully-packed plenary chamber, where the budget was being discussed. On arrival, Otafiire looked around and realised that his seat had been taken. He walked to health minister Dr. Stephen Mallinga and signalled him to get up, which Mallinga did and Otafiire sat, laughing at his action, together with works minister Eng. John Nasasira. As Mallinga looked elsewhere, minister Asuman Kiyingi came to his rescue. He picked a chair from the back and placed it at the front for Mallinga to sit.
Nsibambi’s ‘voca’
Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, fondly referred to as “lugubrious†for his unending vocabulary, never runs out of new terms to challenge his colleagues in Parliament. When tasked by MPs to give a position on the Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga on Monday, Nsibambi said: “Honourable Speaker and members, we shall come out with an appropriate statement at a propitious time.†This left the MPs wondering what he meant by “ propitious timeâ€.
Kasule unmoved
Dr. Kibirige Ssebunya’s son, Robert Kasule, and Katikamu North MP Eng. Abraham Byandaala, are not moved by sentiment. When Baganda MPs threatened to walk out of the House over lack of a statement on the Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere, the two remained in their seats. And when the MPs finally announced a formal walk-out, the two rejected it. Attempts by Butambala MP Kaddunabbi Lubega to beckon them was met with a rude wave-off by Kasule saying: “Leave me aloneâ€.
Okupa cornered
Kasilo MP Elijah Okupa recently found his loyalty divided between opposition chief whip Kassiano Wadri and Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, who is his good friend. When Kadaga overruled on not passing patriotism money, Wadri ordered his side to walk out of the House. However, Okupa, who was seated directly opposite Kadaga, could not because Kadaga was watching. He only managed to exit when Kadaga was busy scrutinising the budget figures. When Kadaga realised that Okupa had fled, she wondered aloud: “Eeh, where has Hon. Okupa gone?â€