CORRIDORS OF POWER
Mar 07, 2005
<b>Nasasira, timekeeper</b><br>Oh dear! Late coming and lack of quorum is killing business in Parliament. Out of 20 MPs, only four will make it in time for meetings while others just go to sign for allowances and disappear.
Nasasira, timekeeper
Oh dear! Late coming and lack of quorum is killing business in Parliament. Out of 20 MPs, only four will make it in time for meetings while others just go to sign for allowances and disappear.
Recently, two ministers, John Nasasira (works) and Mwesigwa Rukutana (state for finance) were shocked when they arrived for the Economic Committee session, only to find empty seats. Nasasira called committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi, “I came here in time and thought we would discuss, but I can’t see anybody,†he told Mafabi.
Help poor Nabeta
Newly appointed state minister for Trade, Igeme Nabeta recently amused people when he said he still needs guidance because he is new in office (ministerial) and ignorant of business issues.
“Since I have just been appointed as the minister, I urgently need your help because I don’t know much about the business issues. I kindly ask you people to assist me understand the whole industry,†he said. Nabeta was recently addressing staff of the Uganda Cooperative Transport Union (UCTU) at their headquarters in Kawempe, Kampala.
Yes, media is free
Those who think the media in Uganda today is not free had better look 30 years back when things had gone to the dogs. In the words of health state minister, Dr Alex Kamugisha, the current government, more than any government before, has given the media a leeway. “You can expand and expand, the sky is the limit. The Movement Government opened up space for you,†Kamugisha said. “During my time, there was nothing like mass media but now we have trained professionals and they earn money,†he added.
Malinga on fence
The UPC Parliamentary caucus chairman, Stephen Malinga is at crossroads, with one leg in the Movement, and the other still stuck in UPC. Three days after being decked in kisanja, he was on Friday engrossed in a lengthy meeting with UPC’s Henry Mayega at the Parliament. The meeting did not amuse some Movement-affiliated MPs. “What are they discussing now... I think Malinga is under pressure,†one MP said. Bushenyi woman MP, Karooro Okurut asked Malinga whether he had actually crossed to the Movement, and Malinga insisted he was on the way but not yet there. Oops!
Oh dear! Late coming and lack of quorum is killing business in Parliament. Out of 20 MPs, only four will make it in time for meetings while others just go to sign for allowances and disappear.
Recently, two ministers, John Nasasira (works) and Mwesigwa Rukutana (state for finance) were shocked when they arrived for the Economic Committee session, only to find empty seats. Nasasira called committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi, “I came here in time and thought we would discuss, but I can’t see anybody,†he told Mafabi.
Help poor Nabeta
Newly appointed state minister for Trade, Igeme Nabeta recently amused people when he said he still needs guidance because he is new in office (ministerial) and ignorant of business issues.
“Since I have just been appointed as the minister, I urgently need your help because I don’t know much about the business issues. I kindly ask you people to assist me understand the whole industry,†he said. Nabeta was recently addressing staff of the Uganda Cooperative Transport Union (UCTU) at their headquarters in Kawempe, Kampala.
Yes, media is free
Those who think the media in Uganda today is not free had better look 30 years back when things had gone to the dogs. In the words of health state minister, Dr Alex Kamugisha, the current government, more than any government before, has given the media a leeway. “You can expand and expand, the sky is the limit. The Movement Government opened up space for you,†Kamugisha said. “During my time, there was nothing like mass media but now we have trained professionals and they earn money,†he added.
Malinga on fence
The UPC Parliamentary caucus chairman, Stephen Malinga is at crossroads, with one leg in the Movement, and the other still stuck in UPC. Three days after being decked in kisanja, he was on Friday engrossed in a lengthy meeting with UPC’s Henry Mayega at the Parliament. The meeting did not amuse some Movement-affiliated MPs. “What are they discussing now... I think Malinga is under pressure,†one MP said. Bushenyi woman MP, Karooro Okurut asked Malinga whether he had actually crossed to the Movement, and Malinga insisted he was on the way but not yet there. Oops!