Corridors of power

Interests declared
It has been said that out of the heart, the mouth speaks. Apac Woman MP Betty Ongom Amongi recently stunned fellow MPs when she publicly declared she had interest in Mama Miria Obote and her family. This was during a debate on the emoluments and benefits for the Presidents, Vice President and
Prime Minister Bill. She said: “As someone who knows the former first lady, the wife of former President, Milton Obote, I have been transparent.
These are basic and normal things. Actually someone will have to top up.
I have declared my interests and I support the benefits.” Everybody laughed and
some MPs wondered who exactly she was interested in when referring to the Obote family.



Excited Tinka
He has hardly been the chairperson of the Presidential Affairs Committee for two weeks
but the Buyaga County MP, Barnabas Tinkasiimire, has started boasting how successful he is!
When Parliament adopted his committee’s report on the benefits of former presidents which
he inherited from former chairperson Gerald Menhya, Tinkasiimire immediately left the House
and was heard making endless phone calls to his buddies. “They have passed my Bill.
I have already succeeded,” he whispered into the phone and kept racing through
the Parliament corridors holding his folder.

Kiggundu’s query
Electoral Commission boss Badru Kiggundu loves praying but has not been so lucky to have a Muslim lead prayers at the EC’s weekly press conferences. He voiced his concern recently when someone at the end of the prayers said: “In Jesus’ name we have prayed.” Kiggundu asked: “Did I hear Paul Bukenya saying in ‘Jesus’ name’ and not Muhammad?” Those around him replied in the affirmative and Kiggundu said: “Anyway, they are both (Jesus and Muhammad) from the same area.” Hajji, did you expect a ‘Paul’ to say in “Muhammad’s name”?

Shadow vanished
Debating the Cabinet white paper on the status of universities in Uganda, FDC shadow education minister Alice Alaso rose up to give her comment on the matter but she was not seated in her usual position on the opposition front bench. She sat in a corner with former UPC iron lady Cecilia Ogwal whom she constantly whispered to. This attracted the attention of the Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga who commented: “As a shadow, you should be near the Speaker I am wondering what has made you sit so far away from me.” This attracted murmurs from the MPs.