Kyankwanzi Meeting To Determine Party Debate

By Grace Matsiko THE Movement will come out with a common position on the political party debate after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi in Kiboga. The presidency minster Prof. Gilbert Bukenya yesterday told a weekly press briefing yesterday at the Cabinet library, Kampala that the views currently expressed by some top members of the Movement did not reflect the official position. Presidential press secretary Mary Karooro Okurut organised the briefing attended by minister of state for information, Basoga Nsadhu, that of Luweero Triangle, Tim Lwanga, President Yoweri Museveni’s political assistant, Moses Byaruhanga, and Ofwono Opondo and Maj. Jacob Asiimwe of the Movement Secretariat. “Those individual views, people should not take as official. I urge all supporters of the Movement to wait for the Kyankwanzi retreat” Bukenya said. “Next week, all NEC members are meeting in Kyankwanzi. There are many issues going to be discussed including the one about parties” he said. Bukenya said, “After that meeting, we’re coming up with a position on the matter.” “On individual statements on the party debate, I have no comment. I don’t believe in individual clashes. They are not an issue” he said, when asked about the divergent views of ministers Eriya Kategaya, Bidandi Ssali and presidential advisor Kakooza Mutale on the debate. “As much as we are seniors in the Movement, who are we to talk on behalf of Ugandans?” he asked. He said as an individual, he supports Wasswa Zziritwaula’s candidature for Kampala mayor. Bukenya told the press that close to 7,000 guns had been voluntarily handed over by the Karimojong to the UPDF since the exercise to remove illegal guns from them was launched by the President on December 2. “The President will camp in Karamoja until something has been done,” Bukenya said. He said, the Government had a massive programme to develop the region, including roads and assisting those affected by cattle raids. Lwanga said arrangements were underway to pay Luweero creditors, some of whom have camped outside the President’s Office. “We have given ourselves about three months within which to pay them,” Lwanga said. He said Museveni is scheduled to meet the creditors around January 14. Asiimwe, the chairman of Luweero creditors verification committee, said most of the people camped at the President’s Office were not genuine creditors and had bogged down the repayment exercise. Opondo said the creditors do not pose any security risk, saying it was the people of Luweero who helped the Government in crushing Maj. Herbert Itongwa’s rebel group. Ends