Museveni restrains Mutale
Jul 16, 2005
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked his senior adviser on political affairs, Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale, to stop campaigning for the retention of the Movement system, saying things have changed.
By Cyprian Musoke
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked his senior adviser on political affairs, Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale, to stop campaigning for the retention of the Movement system, saying things have changed.
In a late meeting at State House, Nakasero on Thursday, Museveni, according to State House sources, asked Mutale to abandon his position in the forthcoming referendum on political systems.
“Indeed, the President has been consistent in telling Major Mutale to abandon his position and support the referendum position for return to multiparty politics, so that we get rid of the people distracting the Movement. I know he would definitely tell him to support the common position,†Museveni’s press secretary, Onapito Ekomoloit, said.
Mutale is campaigning for the retention of the Movement system, contrary to the President’s position to return to multi-party politics.
Mutale’s aides yesterday confirmed that he had been summoned to State House to explain his controversial position on the referendum.
“What more can I tell you about my boss’ meeting? What I can say is that the situation is calm and our role is to politicise people,†said Lt. Saddam, Mutale’s aide de camp.
Asked whether they would change position and campaign for the return to multiparty politics, he maverickly replied, “Where are you talking from? Under a tree or a house? I advise you to pick a ‘house’ (symbol for the retention of the Movement) in the referendum, because you live in a house not under a ‘tree’ (symbol for the return to multipartyism).â€
In a press conference on Tuesday, Museveni described those campaigning for the retention of the Movement as confused agents and said Mutale was ‘out of date’.
He said Mutale was still living in the Luweero war days where political commissars used to go out to talk to villagers.
“He doesn’t know that amendments have been made to the law. Now things have changed,†he said. He said Mutale was ‘technically and substantially out of order’, and promised to sort him out.
In a press statement addressed to the Electoral Commission before leaving for State House yesterday, Mutale contested the validity of the referendum question, saying its subject matter was non-existent.
He said the question was inconsistent with Article 69 (2) of the Constitution, which specifically states the particular political systems that are subject to referenda.
He said while the question demanded the answer YES or NO, its ‘subject matter’ was non-existent.
“As a law-abiding citizen, I believe a clarification sought after from the Electoral Commission will not benefit me alone, but hopefully will illuminate the path to the entire electorate of Uganda,†he said.
Another of Mutale’s aides, Humphrey Rubanganengwe, who is also campaigning for the retention of the Movement, indicated that the group might not be swayed by the President’s persuasions.
Museveni also told the media at State House that the question was a long and confusing statement.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked his senior adviser on political affairs, Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale, to stop campaigning for the retention of the Movement system, saying things have changed.
In a late meeting at State House, Nakasero on Thursday, Museveni, according to State House sources, asked Mutale to abandon his position in the forthcoming referendum on political systems.
“Indeed, the President has been consistent in telling Major Mutale to abandon his position and support the referendum position for return to multiparty politics, so that we get rid of the people distracting the Movement. I know he would definitely tell him to support the common position,†Museveni’s press secretary, Onapito Ekomoloit, said.
Mutale is campaigning for the retention of the Movement system, contrary to the President’s position to return to multi-party politics.
Mutale’s aides yesterday confirmed that he had been summoned to State House to explain his controversial position on the referendum.
“What more can I tell you about my boss’ meeting? What I can say is that the situation is calm and our role is to politicise people,†said Lt. Saddam, Mutale’s aide de camp.
Asked whether they would change position and campaign for the return to multiparty politics, he maverickly replied, “Where are you talking from? Under a tree or a house? I advise you to pick a ‘house’ (symbol for the retention of the Movement) in the referendum, because you live in a house not under a ‘tree’ (symbol for the return to multipartyism).â€
In a press conference on Tuesday, Museveni described those campaigning for the retention of the Movement as confused agents and said Mutale was ‘out of date’.
He said Mutale was still living in the Luweero war days where political commissars used to go out to talk to villagers.
“He doesn’t know that amendments have been made to the law. Now things have changed,†he said. He said Mutale was ‘technically and substantially out of order’, and promised to sort him out.
In a press statement addressed to the Electoral Commission before leaving for State House yesterday, Mutale contested the validity of the referendum question, saying its subject matter was non-existent.
He said the question was inconsistent with Article 69 (2) of the Constitution, which specifically states the particular political systems that are subject to referenda.
He said while the question demanded the answer YES or NO, its ‘subject matter’ was non-existent.
“As a law-abiding citizen, I believe a clarification sought after from the Electoral Commission will not benefit me alone, but hopefully will illuminate the path to the entire electorate of Uganda,†he said.
Another of Mutale’s aides, Humphrey Rubanganengwe, who is also campaigning for the retention of the Movement, indicated that the group might not be swayed by the President’s persuasions.
Museveni also told the media at State House that the question was a long and confusing statement.